Route Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Route Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The surface lies 311 metres up. The water covers around 1.37 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Some 12 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Nearest place of any size is Terrace Bay, 49 km away. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 209 km away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Route Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Route Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 16°C, the coldest about -16°C. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Route Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Mitchele Lake, 1 km away. Ask locally about Route Lake if anything is unclear.