Shackleton Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Cochrane District, Ontario, you have Shackleton Lake. The surroundings are northern bush. Around 92 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. At about 6.0 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It lies lower than most water we list in Ontario. 21 km away sits Smooth Rock Falls, the nearest town. Beyond it, Kapuskasing at 39 km and Cochrane at 70 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Shackleton Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Cochrane District, recorded fish include northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, Iowa darter and logperch. The county list is broader than any single water. On Shackleton Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 17°C at the top of summer and -18°C at the bottom of winter. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on Shackleton Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A jetty or pier is mapped about 940 m from here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Goudreau Lake at 2.4 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Shackleton Lake before loading the car.