Pierce Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, sits Pierce Lake. It sits in northern bush. Surface area runs to about 9 hectares — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Thunder Bay District standards. Nipigon sits 52 km from the bank. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 153 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Pierce Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names 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. The shape of Pierce Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -19°C in January up to 16°C in July. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Pierce Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Silverskin Lake, 3 km away. Confirm before you fish Pierce Lake.