Big Thunder Lake in Nipissing District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Nipissing District entry here is Big Thunder Lake, in Ontario. Elevation runs to 402 metres. It runs to roughly 20 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. About 2.9 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Nearest place of any size is Mattawa, 36 km away. Further out sit Powassan (47 km) and South River (53 km). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Big Thunder Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Anyone new to Big Thunder Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -13°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Big Thunder Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A campsite lies 60 m away for anyone staying over. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Devil Lake at 1.7 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Big Thunder Lake before loading the car.