Contest Lake Fishing near Ely, Ontario

• Overview

  Contest Lake lies within the bounds of Rainy River District, Ontario. The bank is 394 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 8 hectares — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Rainy River District standards. Ely lies 31 km from the water. Babbitt follows at 51 km, then Atikokan at 71 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Contest Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Rainy River District, recorded fish include northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and walleye. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Read Contest Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -16°C to 18°C. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Expect Contest Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Nibin Lake sits 1.3 km off and takes the overflow. Where Contest Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.