Fishing at Smiley Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Smiley Lake belongs to Thunder Bay District. Taiga runs right down to the water. At 2.88 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. With about 43 km of shoreline, local advice saves a lot of walking. Size puts it in the front rank of our Thunder Bay District list. The town to know is Lappe, 43 km out. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 64 km distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Smiley Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Thunder Bay District: cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Smiley Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -19°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. The open-water window runs from around early May to about mid November in an average year. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Smiley Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, McGaughey Lake at 5.1 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Smiley Lake before loading the car.