Fishing Fortune Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Fortune Lake sits in Thunder Bay District, out in Ontario. It sits at 502 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 75 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The shoreline runs about 7.3 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is high ground by Ontario standards. Grand Marais sits 51 km from the bank. Beyond it, Neebing at 73 km and Parkdale at 83 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Fortune Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Fortune Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 17°C for July and -16°C for January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Anyone fishing Fortune Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Prelate Lake, 2.4 km away. What applies at Fortune Lake may have changed since it was mapped.