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

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, this is Canterbury Lake. It stands 310 metres above sea level. The water covers some 29 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 4.1 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Greenstone is the closest town at 94 km. Further out sit Geraldton (96 km) and Longlac (98 km). No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Canterbury Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Thunder Bay District, recorded fish include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Canterbury Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -21°C. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Open water usually runs from early May until about early November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Canterbury Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Tales Lake is 1.9 km distant. Nothing here settles the position at Canterbury Lake for certain.