Long Lake Fishing near Lappe, Ontario

• Overview

  Long Lake is a Thunder Bay District water, in Ontario. The surface lies 463 metres up. With some 58 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Shoreline length is close to 9.5 km, and each section fishes a little differently. It is high ground by Ontario standards. 84 km away sits Lappe, the nearest town. Atikokan is 85 km away, with Parkdale at 91 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Long Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -17°C to 18°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Long Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Bass Lake, 1.8 km away. The position on Long Lake is worth confirming on the day.