Fishing at Elbow Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Within Thunder Bay District, Ontario, you have Elbow Lake. The bank is 549 metres above sea level. At 7 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Thunder Bay District. Grand Marais lies 48 km from the water. Further out sit Neebing (64 km) and Parkdale (75 km). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Elbow Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read Elbow Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 17°C and January at -16°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. The lid tends to go about late April and return around mid November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It sets the rhythm of the year at Elbow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Scott Lake at 2.8 km is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Elbow Lake as something to verify.