Fishing at Half Shot Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Half Shot Lake is one of the Thunder Bay District listings for Ontario. The country here is boreal forest. Surface area is around 29 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. With about 3.1 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Manitouwadge at 52 km is the nearest place to stop. Hornepayne lies 60 km off, Longlac another 83 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Half Shot Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. The county list is broader than any single water. Anyone new to Half Shot Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 16°C and January near -19°C on the long-run figures. This far north the hard season runs and runs. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan any trip to Half Shot Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Snowflake Lake, 0.7 km out. Ask locally about Half Shot Lake if anything is unclear.