Fishing at Clover Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Clover Lake falls inside Thunder Bay District. It stands 360 metres above sea level. Roughly 42 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 4.4 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Greenstone is the closest town at 5.7 km. It is 217 km to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Clover Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Thunder Bay District: cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Clover Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -20°C. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. That shapes the year on Clover Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Cedar Lake sits 1.6 km off and takes the overflow. Where Clover Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.