Fishing Crib Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  You will find Crib Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. Elevation runs to 335 metres. With some 86 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 6.5 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. The nearest place of any size is Longlac, 11 km away. Further out sit Geraldton (21 km) and Greenstone (36 km). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Crib Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Read Crib Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -19°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Crib Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Heald Lake is 2.7 km off. For Crib Lake in particular, ask before you travel.