Shoehorn Lake in Thunder Bay District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Shoehorn Lake is one of the Thunder Bay District waters in Ontario. It lies 416 metres above sea level. At some 1.40 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Shoreline length is close to 8.9 km, and each section fishes a little differently. The nearest place of any size is Sioux Lookout, 90 km away. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 247 km away. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Shoehorn Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Thunder Bay District: cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The county list is broader than any single water. Shoehorn Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 17°C and January near -20°C on the long-run figures. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. Open water usually runs from early May until about mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Shoehorn Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. 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. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Hough Lake is 1.6 km off. Confirm before you fish Shoehorn Lake.