Fishing Rainbow Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Rainbow Lake falls in Thunder Bay District, part of Ontario. The land about it is pine and birch. Surface area is around 48 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 3.6 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Compared with other Ontario water on our list, it sits high. Supplies mean a trip to Atikokan, 69 km off. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 111 km away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. 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. Survey and observation records for Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Rainbow Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 18°C in July and bottoms out near -17°C in January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Anyone fishing Rainbow Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The closest car park is 730 m away, so pack accordingly. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Moss Lake at 2.4 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Rainbow Lake for certain.