Mike Lake in Kenora District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Mike Lake stands in Kenora District, Ontario. It sits at 357 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 47 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The shoreline runs about 5.3 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Nearest town is Kenora, 40 km off. Vermilion Bay lies 53 km off, Dryden another 92 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mike Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Kenora District cover northern pike, longnose sucker and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Mike Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 19°C, with January the cold end at about -17°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That is the shape of the year on Mike Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Ulster Lake, 1.5 km away. Check the current arrangement for Mike Lake.