Clear Lake Fishing near Sioux Lookout, Ontario

• Overview

  Clear Lake lies within the bounds of Kenora District, Ontario. It stands 355 metres above sea level. It covers about 11.96 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. Size puts it in the front rank of our Kenora District list. Sioux Lookout lies 41 km from the water. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 313 km distant. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Kenora District records list northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and johnny darter among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Clear Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 18°C and January near -18°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Clear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Whitefish Lake, 11 km away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for Clear Lake in what we hold.