Fishing Joe Lake in Kenora District, Ontario

• Overview

  The Kenora District end of Ontario holds Joe Lake. The water sits 345 metres up. About 2.30 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. Some 15 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. For supplies, Kenora is 39 km out. Beyond it, Vermilion Bay at 77 km and Red Lake at 108 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Joe Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Kenora District include northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and johnny darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Joe Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 19°C and January reads -18°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Joe Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Jim Lake is 2.5 km distant. Nothing here settles the position at Joe Lake for certain.