Clearwater Lake Fishing in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Clearwater Lake falls inside Thunder Bay District. The bank is 336 metres above sea level. Around 67 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. There is roughly 5.3 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Nearest town is Greenstone, 149 km off. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 208 km away. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Clearwater Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The county list is broader than any single water. On Clearwater Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 17°C in July and bottom out at -21°C in January. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Average temperatures cross freezing around early May in spring and again near mid November in autumn. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On Clearwater Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Mackenzie Lake is 2.1 km off. The position on Clearwater Lake is worth confirming on the day.