Fishing Gandier Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Gandier Lake belongs to Thunder Bay District. Elevation runs to 440 metres. At about 22 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Bank access stretches around 3.2 km in total. Compared with other Ontario water on our list, it sits high. Lappe sits 45 km from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Thunder Bay is 67 km off. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Gandier Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Thunder Bay District records list cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Gandier Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -20°C. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Gandier Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Livermore Lake, 7.2 km out. For Gandier Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.