Melgund Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Thunder Bay District end of Ontario holds Melgund Lake. Around the bank it is spruce and muskeg. The water covers some 15 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The whole outline is near 2.9 km, and most of it is walkable. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Thunder Bay District. The nearest town is Manitouwadge, 54 km away. Then Terrace Bay, 70 km, and Schreiber, 82 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Melgund Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Melgund Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 16°C and January near -15°C. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Melgund Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Onpaco Lake is 3.1 km distant. Confirm access to Melgund Lake locally before you travel.