Hawk Lake Fishing Guide, Kenora District, Ontario

• Overview

  Hawk Lake is one of the Kenora District listings for Ontario. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. The water covers around 2.98 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Around 13 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. Compared with other Ontario water on our list, it sits high. Ignace is the closest place, 58 km off. Atikokan follows at 69 km, then Sioux Lookout at 124 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Hawk Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and johnny darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Hawk Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 18°C for July and -19°C for January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Average temperatures cross freezing around early May in spring and again near mid November in autumn. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Hawk Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Stretch Lake sits 4.2 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Hawk Lake before loading the car.