Smudge Lake Fishing in Rainy River District, Ontario

• Overview

  Smudge Lake sits in Rainy River District, out in Ontario. It sits in rolling bush. The water covers some 47 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 3.8 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Atikokan sits 13 km from here and is the nearest stop. After that come Ely at 84 km and Ignace at 85 km. Close by you also have: Owl Lake 2.1 km, Soho Lake 2.9 km away, Abbess Lake 3.8 km, Narrow Lake 4.5 km away and McAlpine Lake 4.8 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Smudge Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. 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. Rainy River District records list northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and walleye among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Smudge Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -17°C to 18°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Smudge Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Owl Lake is 2.1 km distant. Check the position on Smudge Lake before loading the car.