Spruce Lake Fishing near Ignace, Ontario

• Overview

  Spruce Lake belongs to Kenora District, Ontario. Everything around it is mixed forest. This is sizeable water at about 2.92 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. You are looking at roughly 22 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. It is high ground by Ontario standards. Supplies mean a trip to Ignace, 36 km off. Beyond it, Dryden at 58 km and Sioux Lookout at 71 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Spruce Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Kenora District include northern pike, longnose sucker, white sucker and johnny darter. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Spruce Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -18°C to 18°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Spruce Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, West Hawk Lake is 5.1 km off. Where Spruce Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.