Fishing at Melgund Lake, Kenora District, Ontario

• Overview

  Melgund Lake lies within the bounds of Kenora District, Ontario. This is rolling bush country. It covers about 12.04 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. There is roughly 49 km of bank, and each arm behaves like its own water. Size puts it in the front rank of our Kenora District list. Dryden at 35 km is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Thunder Bay is 264 km off. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Melgund Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Kenora District include northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and johnny darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Melgund Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -18°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Melgund Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Creed Lake is 3.6 km distant. Ask locally about Melgund Lake if anything is unclear.