Fishing at Marten Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Marten Lake lies in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The ground round it is lake country bush. At some 1.23 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs about 9.5 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It sits higher than most water we list in Ontario. Head to Lappe, 98 km away, for anything you forgot. Ignace is 106 km and County Park 112 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Marten Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. 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 Marten Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -20°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. In an average year the thaw lands around early May and the freeze near mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. At Marten Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Robin Lake is 0.6 km distant. Signs at Marten Lake carry more weight than any list.