Fishing at Raynar Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Raynar Lake lies within the bounds of Thunder Bay District, Ontario. It sits in northern bush country. It measures some 4.41 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. The perimeter runs near 16 km, so plan the walk before you start. It ranks high for size among our Thunder Bay District listings. The nearest town is Longlac, 22 km away. After that come Geraldton at 43 km and Greenstone at 55 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Raynar Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Thunder Bay District: cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Raynar Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -19°C in January and 16°C in July. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Raynar Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in 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. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Little Tilia Lake at 1.5 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Raynar Lake is worth confirming on the day.