North Skipper Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for North Skipper Lake in the Thunder Bay District part of Ontario. Height above sea level is 262 metres. It measures about 59 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. With about 4.4 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Start from Manitouwadge, 48 km down the road. Then Terrace Bay, 53 km, and Schreiber, 65 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on North Skipper Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Take North Skipper Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -16°C in January and 16°C in July. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. North Skipper Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• 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. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Jim Lake sits 1.8 km off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for North Skipper Lake.