Fishing at Robert Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Ontario holds Robert Lake, in Thunder Bay District. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. Surface area runs to roughly 1.45 sq km, so plan for one area rather than the whole. With 13 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Compared with other Ontario water on our list, it sits high. Supplies mean a trip to Ignace, 112 km off. For a city, Thunder Bay is 184 km off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Robert Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Robert Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -20°C in January and 17°C in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Expect Robert Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Ton Lake is 1.6 km distant. For Robert Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.