Fred Lake Fishing Guide, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Fred Lake is a Thunder Bay District water, Ontario side. The bank is 309 metres above sea level. About 4 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Our Thunder Bay District list holds plenty of bigger water. The town to know is Nipigon, 38 km out. Schreiber lies 46 km off, Terrace Bay another 58 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Fred Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Thunder Bay District: cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Fred Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for July and -15°C for January. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. That is the shape of the year on Fred Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Rainbow Lake, 1.1 km out. Check the position at Fred Lake before loading the car.