Fishing Helianthus Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Helianthus Lake is an Ontario water. It lies 324 metres above sea level. It measures some 1.15 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. You are 40 km from Manitouwadge. Beyond it, Longlac at 63 km and Geraldton at 69 km. Others close at hand: Parabola Lake 0.9 km away, Lobelia Lake roughly 2.7 km, Physalis Lake 2.9 km away, Excalibur Lake roughly 4.1 km and Boomerang Lake 4.9 km away. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Helianthus Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Helianthus Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 16°C and January near -17°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Helianthus Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Parabola Lake at 0.9 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Helianthus Lake should be assumed from this page alone.