Gelapa Lake Fishing near Nipigon, Ontario

• Overview

  The Thunder Bay District end of Ontario holds Gelapa Lake. What surrounds it is northern bush. It runs to roughly 53 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. There is roughly 4.4 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The nearest town is Nipigon, 34 km away. It is 114 km to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Gelapa Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Gelapa Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 17°C and January near -18°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. Open water usually runs from early May until about mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Gelapa Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Bernice Lake, 3 km out. Signs at Gelapa Lake carry more weight than any list.