Fishing Candle Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Candle Lake is one of the Thunder Bay District listings for Ontario. What surrounds it is northern bush. Around 13 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. A shoreline of some 1.9 km keeps the choices simple. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Thunder Bay District. 39 km away sits Nipigon, the nearest town. Schreiber follows at 60 km, then Terrace Bay at 71 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Candle Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Thunder Bay District, recorded fish include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Read Candle Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 16°C and January near -18°C. Little of the calendar is open water, so timing counts for everything. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Candle Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Dello Lake is 3.6 km off. Ask locally about Candle Lake if anything is unclear.