Bear Lake Fishing in Kenora District, Ontario

• Overview

  Bear Lake is a Kenora District water, in Ontario. It sits at 404 metres above sea level. About 1.25 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The edge covers about 9.5 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. The town to know is Ignace, 36 km out. It is 216 km to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. Also within reach: Butters Lake 3.9 km off, Gerry Lake within 4 km, Rice Lake 5 km off, Gooch Creek within 5.2 km and Glover Lake 5.7 km off. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Kenora District include northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and johnny darter. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Bear Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -19°C to 18°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Bear Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Butters Lake, 3.9 km away. Signs at Bear Lake carry more weight than any list.