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

• Overview

  Botham Lake sits within Thunder Bay District in Ontario. The country here is northern bush. The water covers some 14 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 2.3 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Thunder Bay District list. The town to know is Manitouwadge, 48 km out. Terrace Bay lies 84 km off, Schreiber another 96 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Botham Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The county list is broader than any single water. On Botham Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -15°C and July at about 16°C, the water has a wide range to work through. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. The lid tends to go about late April and return around mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Botham Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Cigar Lake, 1.2 km out. Signs at Botham Lake carry more weight than any list.