Harmon Lake in Thunder Bay District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Harmon Lake is an Ontario water. The surface lies 425 metres up. Around 28.53 sq km of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. You have roughly 164 km of edge to choose from, which rewards a scouting trip. On our Thunder Bay District list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Ignace, is 119 km away. For a city, Thunder Bay is 188 km off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Harmon Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish Harmon Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 18°C, with January the cold end at about -20°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. That is the shape of the year on Harmon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Stinson Lake, 5.6 km out. Confirm access to Harmon Lake locally before you travel.