Fishing Scattergood Lake in Kenora District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Kenora District, Scattergood Lake is an Ontario water. It sits at 432 metres above sea level. About 3.20 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. At about 24 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It sits higher than most water we list in Ontario. Dryden at 54 km is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 273 km distant. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Scattergood Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Kenora District cover northern pike, longnose sucker and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Scattergood Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -18°C in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Scattergood Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Uphill Lake at 7.5 km is the sensible second choice. For Scattergood Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.