Fishing at French Lake, Rainy River District, Ontario

• Overview

  The Rainy River District entry here is French Lake, in Ontario. The water sits 407 metres up. The water covers around 2.90 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Shoreline length is close to 11 km, and each section fishes a little differently. The closest town, Atikokan, is 36 km away. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 143 km away. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on French Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Rainy River District cover northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and walleye. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Treat French Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -17°C to 18°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to French Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• 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. The nearest car park we can see is 850 m out, so expect a walk with your gear. There is a campsite 1 km from the water. Mapping records toilets within 860 m. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Little Eva Lake is 1.9 km off. Ask locally about French Lake if anything is unclear.