Matson Lake Fishing near Neebing, Ontario

• Overview

  The Thunder Bay District end of Ontario holds Matson Lake. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. Roughly 12 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Roughly 1.5 km of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It is a small entry by Thunder Bay District standards. Head to Neebing, 22 km away, for anything you forgot. For a city, Thunder Bay is 46 km off. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Matson Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Matson Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -15°C in January to roughly 18°C in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Matson Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Bell Lake is 1 km off. Confirm access to Matson Lake locally before you travel.