North Soldier Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  North Soldier Lake is one of the Thunder Bay District waters in Ontario. The country round it is taiga from end to end. The water covers some 42 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 4.8 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Manitouwadge sits 79 km from here and is the nearest stop. Wawa lies 88 km off, Terrace Bay another 106 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on North Soldier Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On North Soldier Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -15°C to 16°C. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. It holds true on North Soldier Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try South Soldier Lake, 1.9 km away. Rules at North Soldier Lake are worth checking on the day.