Fishing Plateau Lake in Rainy River District, Ontario

• Overview

  Rainy River District, Ontario, is where Plateau Lake sits. The surface lies 438 metres up. At some 6.54 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. You have roughly 48 km of edge to choose from, which rewards a scouting trip. On our Rainy River District list it sits near the top for size. Start from Atikokan, 10 km down the road. Further out sit Ignace (76 km) and Ely (97 km). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Plateau Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Rainy River District include northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Plateau Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 18°C and January near -17°C on the long-run figures. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate figures give an open season running late April to mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. At Plateau Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Fire Lake is 1.5 km off. Where Plateau Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.