Star Lake near Longlac: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Star Lake is a Thunder Bay District water, in Ontario. Land around it is spruce and muskeg. With some 21 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Shoreline comes to about 3.3 km, small enough to learn in a day. Longlac sits 27 km from the bank. Geraldton lies 39 km off, Greenstone another 53 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Star Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Thunder Bay District records list cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Star Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 16°C, while January sits near -18°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on Star Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Sadie Lake at 1.4 km is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Star Lake if anything is unclear.