Butchart Lake Fishing in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Butchart Lake is a Thunder Bay District water, in Ontario. The water sits 358 metres up. Surface area is around 45 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Bank access stretches around 3.6 km in total. Sioux Lookout lies 179 km from the water. It is 254 km to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Butchart Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Butchart Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -21°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Butchart Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Lynam Lake at 5.1 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Butchart Lake locally before you travel.