Camp 36 Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Ontario, Camp 36 Lake belongs to Thunder Bay District. What surrounds it is northern bush. Small at around 6 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Thunder Bay District are larger. Manitouwadge is the closest town at 50 km. Terrace Bay lies 76 km off, Schreiber another 88 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Camp 36 Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Thunder Bay District records list cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On this water the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -15°C in January and 16°C in July. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. The open-water window runs from around late April to about mid November in an average year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On this water the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Rous Lake at 3.4 km is the sensible second choice. For this water, the notice at the access point is the final word.