Fishing Dead Shot Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Thunder Bay District in Ontario is where Dead Shot Lake sits. The water sits 318 metres up. The water covers some 42 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. About 3.0 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Nearest place of any size is Manitouwadge, 52 km away. Hornepayne is 60 km and Longlac 82 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Dead Shot Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Dead Shot Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -19°C to 16°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan any trip to Dead Shot Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Half Shot Lake is 0.8 km off. Confirm before you fish Dead Shot Lake.