Damon Lake in Thunder Bay District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ontario holds Damon Lake, in Thunder Bay District. Elevation runs to 434 metres. About 2.26 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The margin runs to about 13 km in total. It is among the larger waters listed here for Thunder Bay District. Lappe lies 132 km from the water. Then Nipigon, 133 km, and Shuniah Township, 141 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Damon Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Damon Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 17°C on average, January about -20°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on Damon Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Tucci Lake sits 3.5 km off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Damon Lake if anything is unclear.