Fishing at Edar Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Edar Lake is set in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The land about it is lake country bush. About 2.62 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. You are looking at roughly 22 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. Few waters listed in Thunder Bay District are bigger. The closest town, Atikokan, is 57 km away. Ignace is 90 km and Lappe 113 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Edar Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The county list is broader than any single water. On Edar Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -17°C in January and 18°C in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. The open-water window runs from around late April to about mid November in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Edar Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Chief Peter Lake, 4.3 km away. Treat Edar Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.