Fishing at Grande Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Within Thunder Bay District, Ontario, you have Grande Lake. The country round it is spruce and muskeg from end to end. At 3 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Thunder Bay District standards. The town to know is Amethyst Harbour, 34 km out. Nipigon is 37 km and Shuniah Township 46 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Grande Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The county list is broader than any single water. On Grande Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 17°C; the cold one sits at -17°C. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again 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 Grande Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Lost Lake is 1 km off. Where Grande Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.