Downhill Lake near Ignace: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Ontario, Downhill Lake belongs to Kenora District. The surroundings are pine and birch. The water covers around 4.14 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. You are looking at roughly 9.9 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. The nearest town is Ignace, 23 km away. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 196 km away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Downhill Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Kenora District records list northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and johnny darter among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Downhill Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 18°C and January about -19°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. On average, late April opens the water and mid November closes it again. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Downhill Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Ken Lake is 4.8 km off. Confirm before you fish Downhill Lake.