Fishing at Coffey Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Coffey Lake is an Ontario water. The land about it is taiga. Small at around 3 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Thunder Bay District standards. The town to know is Greenstone, 59 km out. Geraldton follows at 65 km, then Longlac at 79 km. Within a short drive: Red Paint Lake 1 km, Venus Lake about 1.4 km, Wilgar Lake 1.7 km, Holliday Lake about 2.7 km and Nixon Lake 4.3 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Coffey Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Coffey Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 16°C and January near -20°C on the long-run figures. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between early May and mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Coffey Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Red Paint Lake at 1 km is the sensible second choice. For Coffey Lake in particular, ask before you travel.