Fishing at Devilfish Bay, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Devilfish Bay is one of the Thunder Bay District waters in Ontario. It lies 327 metres above sea level. It measures about 52 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Bank access stretches around 3.2 km in total. You are 8.7 km from Geraldton. Then Longlac, 22 km, and Greenstone, 24 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Devilfish Bay

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Flats either side fish on the drop as bait is pushed off them. The channel is where water moves, and fish follow it. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Devilfish Bay light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in July and bottom out at -20°C in January. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That is the shape of the year on Devilfish Bay.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Ashmore Lake, 4.6 km out. Treat access at Devilfish Bay as something to verify.