Gun Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Gun Lake is a Rainy River District water, in Ontario. The surface lies 374 metres up. At about 75 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. There is roughly 6.4 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. For supplies, Ely is 53 km out. For a city, Thunder Bay is 218 km off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Gun Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Rainy River District, recorded fish include northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Gun Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -16°C in January to roughly 19°C in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Gun Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Overnight stays are possible about 380 m out, where camping is mapped. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Haunted Lake at 1.3 km is the sensible second choice. For Gun Lake in particular, ask before you travel.