Fishing at Maple Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Maple Lake sits in Thunder Bay District, out in Ontario. What surrounds it is lake country bush. Around 22 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. A shoreline of some 2.8 km keeps the choices simple. For supplies, Wawa is 58 km out. Further out sit Manitouwadge (127 km) and Terrace Bay (144 km). The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Maple Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Anyone new to Maple Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 16°C; the cold one sits at -12°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around late April to about late November in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Maple Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Jackfish Lake at 3.2 km is the nearest alternative. For Maple Lake in particular, ask before you travel.