Fishing Nonwatin Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Nonwatin Lake falls inside Thunder Bay District. The bank is 219 metres above sea level. At 7.18 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. The outline measures near 15 km, so local knowledge counts. It ranks high for size among our Thunder Bay District listings. For a base, Nipigon sits 39 km out. For a city, Thunder Bay is 105 km off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Nonwatin Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. 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. Nonwatin Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 17°C, the coldest about -18°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Nonwatin Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Nonwatinose Lake at 3.6 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Nonwatin Lake before loading the car.