Dogfish Lake in Rainy River District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Ontario, Dogfish Lake belongs to Rainy River District. It sits at 396 metres above sea level. At about 30 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Ely lies 40 km from the water. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 218 km distant. Round about: Agawato Lake within 1.3 km, Little Shell Lake 1.9 km away, Shohola Lake within 2.2 km, Shell Lake 2.2 km away and Woksapiwi Lake within 2.8 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Dogfish Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Rainy River District cover northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Dogfish Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 19°C and January near -16°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Time your trip to Dogfish Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Overnight stays are possible 1.3 km away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Agawato Lake is 1.3 km distant. Signs at Dogfish Lake carry more weight than any list.