Jump Lake in Rainy River District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Rainy River District entry here is Jump Lake, in Ontario. Height above sea level is 429 metres. The water measures roughly 4 hectares, so nothing here is far from anything else. Most waters listed here for Rainy River District are larger. Atikokan at 13 km is the nearest place to stop. Thunder Bay sits 169 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Jump Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Rainy River District names northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Jump Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -17°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Jump Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Batchewaung Lake, 4.6 km away. Confirm before you fish Jump Lake.