Onpaco Lake Fishing Guide, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Onpaco Lake is an Ontario water. What surrounds it is rolling bush. Around 17 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. Shoreline comes to about 2.0 km, small enough to learn in a day. Supplies mean a trip to Manitouwadge, 57 km off. After that come Terrace Bay at 68 km and Schreiber at 81 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Onpaco Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Thunder Bay District, recorded fish include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Read Onpaco Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 16°C and January about -15°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Onpaco Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Melgund Lake at 3.1 km is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Onpaco Lake if anything is unclear.