Fall Lake Fishing Guide, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Fall Lake falls inside Thunder Bay District. It sits at 457 metres above sea level. At some 1.20 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. You are looking at roughly 5.1 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Ontario listings. The town to know is Lappe, 77 km out. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 98 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Fall Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fall Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 17°C in July and bottom out at -20°C in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Fall Lake.

• 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. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Creppy Lake, 1.7 km away. For Fall Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.