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

• Overview

  The Thunder Bay District end of Ontario holds Bud Lake. The surface lies 441 metres up. Around 17 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. Around 3.4 km of margin, front to back. It sits higher than most water we list in Ontario. Supplies mean a trip to Ignace, 52 km off. It is 175 km to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Bud Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Thunder Bay District, recorded fish include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Bud Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -19°C. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bud Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Coop Lake at 1.9 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Bud Lake carry more weight than any list.