Mirror Lake Fishing in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Mirror Lake is set in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. It sits in boreal forest country. It runs to roughly 11 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 3.0 km, small enough to learn in a day. It is a small entry by Thunder Bay District standards. For supplies, Nipigon is 43 km out. For a city, Thunder Bay is 79 km off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Mirror Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover 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. The near bank of Mirror Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 17°C, the coldest about -18°C. Winter runs most of the calendar, and everything worth doing happens in the gap. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Mirror Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Schmoo Lake is 2.2 km distant. What applies at Mirror Lake may have changed since it was mapped.