Fishing at Mashkigomin Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Mashkigomin Lake is one of the Thunder Bay District listings for Ontario. Boreal forest runs right down to the water. This is sizeable water at about 1.28 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The perimeter runs near 12 km, so plan the walk before you start. The closest town, Manitouwadge, is 59 km away. Beyond it, Terrace Bay at 97 km and Wawa at 102 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Mashkigomin Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Mashkigomin Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -16°C to 16°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The open-water window runs from around early May to about mid November in an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Mashkigomin Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Jumbo Lake, 3 km away. Treat Mashkigomin Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.