Claire Lake Fishing in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Claire Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 5 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Thunder Bay District are larger. Schreiber at 32 km is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 130 km away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Claire Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Thunder Bay District: cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Claire Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for August and -14°C for January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It sets the rhythm of the year at Claire Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Hydro Lake, 0.6 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Claire Lake before loading the car.