Fishing at Sandhills Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Sandhills Lake belongs to Thunder Bay District. The surface lies 317 metres up. Roughly 34 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. A shoreline of some 2.8 km keeps the choices simple. Greenstone sits 56 km from the bank. Geraldton is 66 km and Longlac 86 km. Within a short drive: Knucklethumb Lake (1.4 km), 1.5 km out stands Shed Lake, Hendrickson Lake (2.7 km), 2.8 km out stands Hull Lake and Slate Lake (3.2 km). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Sandhills Lake

  Our records hold 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. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. The county list is broader than any single water. Sandhills Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 16°C at the top of summer and -20°C at the bottom of winter. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. On Sandhills Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Knucklethumb Lake, 1.4 km away. The position on Sandhills Lake is worth confirming on the day.