Fishing Greenwater Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Ontario holds Greenwater Lake, in Thunder Bay District. Country round the bank runs to northern bush. Surface area is around 20 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. About 2.8 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Longlac lies 45 km from the water. Manitouwadge is 58 km away, with Geraldton at 73 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Greenwater Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Greenwater Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -18°C to 16°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. The open-water window runs from around early May to about mid November in an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Anyone fishing Greenwater Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Styx Lake, 2.3 km out. Rules at Greenwater Lake are worth checking on the day.