Castle Lake Fishing in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, this is Castle Lake. The bank is 499 metres above sea level. With some 38 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 4.0 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Ontario listings. Neebing lies 49 km from the water. Grand Marais lies 53 km off, Parkdale another 60 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Castle Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Castle Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 18°C, with January the cold end at about -16°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Castle Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Castle Creek Provincial Park covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Cameron Lake at 3 km is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Castle Lake.