Fishing at Can Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Can Lake is one of the Thunder Bay District listings for Ontario. This is spruce and muskeg country. About 6 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Our Thunder Bay District list holds plenty of bigger water. For supplies, Greenstone is 58 km out. For a city, Thunder Bay is 244 km off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Can Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Can Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -20°C to 16°C. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Can Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Nixon Lake at 0.6 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Can Lake is worth confirming on the day.