Snow Lake in Rainy River District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Rainy River District, Ontario, sits Snow Lake. What surrounds it is rolling bush. At about 34 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 2.9 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The nearest place of any size is Atikokan, 10 km away. Then Ignace, 65 km, and Ely, 106 km. Round about: Slush Lake 1.4 km, Icy Lake roughly 1.4 km, Ski Lake 1.5 km, Air Hole Lake roughly 1.8 km and Lower Basin A 2.1 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Snow Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Rainy River District records list northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Snow Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -17°C to 18°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Snow Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Slush Lake, 1.4 km away. Treat Snow Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.