Sandstone Lake Fishing Guide, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Sandstone Lake belongs to Thunder Bay District, Ontario. It lies 466 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to roughly 7.45 sq km, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The perimeter runs near 19 km, so plan the walk before you start. Size puts it in the front rank of our Thunder Bay District list. 54 km away sits Grand Marais, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 75 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Sandstone Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Sandstone Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -16°C to 17°C. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It holds true on Sandstone Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Atik Lake at 5.2 km is the sensible second choice. Where Sandstone Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.