Cole Lake Fishing near Atikokan, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Rainy River District, Cole Lake is an Ontario water. The ground around here is mixed forest. Surface area is around 89 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The outline measures near 7.7 km, so local knowledge counts. For a base, Atikokan sits 15 km out. Beyond it, Ignace at 83 km and Ely at 86 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Cole Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Rainy River District include northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Cole Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -17°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. That shapes the year on Cole Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Sue Lake sits 0.9 km off and takes the overflow. For Cole Lake in particular, ask before you travel.