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

• Overview

  In Ontario, Chota Lake falls inside Thunder Bay District. The surface lies 580 metres up. Small at around 3 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Thunder Bay District. The closest town, Neebing, is 54 km distant. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 63 km away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Chota Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Chota Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -17°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Chota Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Tower Lake, 3.1 km away. Ask locally about Chota Lake if anything is unclear.