Rickaby Lake Fishing Guide, Kenora District, Ontario

• Overview

  Rickaby Lake falls in Kenora District, part of Ontario. Everything around it is lake country bush. At 1.61 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. Some 12 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. The nearest town is Lac du Bonnet, 84 km away. Further out sit Red Lake (96 km) and Golden (104 km). No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Rickaby Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Kenora District include northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker, johnny darter and logperch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Rickaby Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -19°C in January to roughly 18°C in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Climate figures give an open season running late April to mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. On Rickaby Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Bee Lake is 2 km distant. Check the position at Rickaby Lake before loading the car.