Fishing Nelson Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Nelson Lake belongs to Thunder Bay District. What surrounds it is lake country bush. Roughly 6.58 sq km of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. With 18 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Few waters listed in Thunder Bay District are bigger. Head to Grand Marais, 80 km away, for anything you forgot. It is 95 km to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Nelson Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Thunder Bay District list cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Nelson Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -16°C to 18°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Nelson Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Heart Lake at 3.9 km is the nearest alternative. For Nelson Lake in particular, ask before you travel.