Rice Lake Fishing near Ignace, Ontario

• Overview

  Rice Lake stands in Kenora District, Ontario. This is rolling bush ground. At 1.15 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. The perimeter runs near 5.2 km, so plan the walk before you start. The town to know is Ignace, 41 km out. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 217 km away. Others worth noting: Steve Lake about 2.8 km, Bear Lake 5 km away, Wintering Lake about 5.6 km, Bob Lake 5.9 km away and Bill Lake about 6.9 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Kenora District include northern pike, longnose sucker and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Read Rice Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 18°C and January reads -19°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Rice Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Steve Lake, 2.8 km out. Check the position on Rice Lake before loading the car.