Fishing at Southpine Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Southpine Lake stands in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. Height above sea level is 419 metres. At about 44 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 7.1 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. Nearest town is Schreiber, 25 km off. Terrace Bay lies 30 km off, Nipigon another 76 km. Close neighbours run: Northpine Lake some 2.7 km off, Cable Lake after 4.1 km, Harvie Lake some 4.3 km off, Nickel Lake after 5 km and Big Duck Lake some 5.2 km off. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Southpine Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The near bank of Southpine Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for July and -17°C for January. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Southpine Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Northpine Lake is 2.7 km distant. For Southpine Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.