Fishing at Pony Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Pony Lake falls in Thunder Bay District, part of Ontario. Height above sea level is 298 metres. At roughly 3 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Thunder Bay District standards. Terrace Bay is the closest place, 12 km off. After that come Schreiber at 22 km and Manitouwadge at 88 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Pony Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Pony Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 16°C, the coldest about -16°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Pony Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Canoe Lake is 1 km off. None of that is settled for Pony Lake in what we hold.