Gooch Creek in Kenora District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Gooch Creek lies in Kenora District, Ontario. The country here is mixed forest. You are 34 km from Ignace. It is 220 km to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. Others close at hand: Bug Lake sits 3.7 km out, Gooch Lake out at 3.8 km, Barrel Lake sits 5.2 km out, Bear Lake out at 5.2 km and Little Gooch Lake sits 5.7 km out. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Gooch Creek

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. After rain the colour clears from the surface first, so fish the edges. Undercut banks hold fish that the middle of the river never will. County-wide records name northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and johnny darter. The county list is broader than any single water. At Gooch Creek the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -19°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The quiet pools cap over in winter, the riffles never quite do, and late April clears the lot. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Gooch Creek.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Bug Lake at 3.7 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Gooch Creek carry more weight than any list.