Petersen Lake Fishing near Nipigon, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, this is Petersen Lake. Height above sea level is 270 metres. The water covers some 59 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline length is close to 6.0 km, and each section fishes a little differently. The closest town, Nipigon, is 35 km distant. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 109 km away. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Petersen Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Petersen Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 16°C and January about -15°C. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Petersen Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, McCormick Lake at 1.8 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Petersen Lake before loading the car.