Colenso Lake in Kenora District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Colenso Lake sits in Kenora District, out in Ontario. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. Around 92 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. The whole outline is near 4.6 km, and most of it is walkable. Vermilion Bay is the closest place, 16 km off. Dryden lies 39 km off, Sioux Lookout another 89 km. Nearby alternatives: Chanley Lake at 2.8 km, Buller Lake after 3.3 km, Boer Lake at 4.4 km, Leo Lake after 6.1 km and Soma Lake at 7.1 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Colenso Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Kenora District records list northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and johnny darter among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Colenso Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -18°C in January up to 18°C in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Colenso Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Chanley Lake is 2.8 km off. Signs at Colenso Lake carry more weight than any list.