Belaire Lake in Thunder Bay District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Thunder Bay District entry here is Belaire Lake, in Ontario. It lies 422 metres above sea level. The water covers some 92 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline length is close to 5.1 km, and each section fishes a little differently. The nearest town is Atikokan, 57 km away. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 128 km away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Belaire Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Belaire Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 18°C; the cold one sits at -16°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Belaire Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Clay Lake, 3.9 km out. None of that is settled for Belaire Lake in what we hold.