Dash Lake Fishing Guide, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Dash Lake sits in Thunder Bay District, out in Ontario. It lies 310 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 79 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Around 5.5 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. You are 141 km from Greenstone. Geraldton lies 145 km off, Longlac another 150 km. Others worth noting: Box Lake at about 3.2 km, Burness Lake 7 km, Collver Lake at about 8.8 km, Brandon Lake 9.2 km and Volks Lake at about 9.8 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Dash Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Dash Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 16°C and January about -21°C. Winter runs most of the calendar, and everything worth doing happens in the gap. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. On average, early May opens the water and early November closes it again. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Anyone fishing Dash Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Box Lake at 3.2 km is the nearest alternative. For Dash Lake in particular, ask before you travel.