Fishing at Slessor Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Thunder Bay District, Ontario, is where Slessor Lake sits. Elevation runs to 205 metres. It runs to roughly 33 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. A shoreline of some 2.7 km keeps the choices simple. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Ontario listings. Some 124 km away sits Longlac, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Geraldton at 140 km and Greenstone at 146 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Slessor Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Slessor Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for July and -20°C for January. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Slessor Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Mino Lake sits 7.2 km off and takes the overflow. Rules at Slessor Lake are worth checking on the day.