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

• Overview

  Thunder Bay District, Ontario, is where Dempster Lake sits. Height above sea level is 446 metres. Roughly 68 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The perimeter runs near 6.8 km, so plan the walk before you start. It sits higher than most water we list in Ontario. Nipigon is the closest place, 49 km off. Schreiber follows at 58 km, then Greenstone at 66 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Dempster Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Dempster Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 16°C on average, January about -19°C. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. In an average year the thaw lands around early May and the freeze near mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Dempster Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. 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. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Arrell Lake, 3.6 km away. Confirm before you fish Dempster Lake.