Fishing at Bonanza Lake, Kenora District, Ontario

• Overview

  Bonanza Lake is set in Kenora District, Ontario. It sits at 424 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 76 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 4.8 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. For supplies, Dryden is 34 km out. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 313 km distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Bonanza Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Kenora District include northern pike, longnose sucker and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Bonanza Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -18°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bonanza Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Ludy Lake at 2.1 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Bonanza Lake.