Fishing at Sturgeon Lake, Kenora District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Kenora District, Sturgeon Lake is an Ontario water. The water sits 410 metres up. At 242.88 sq km you are fishing a fraction of it whatever you do. Long inlets mean the far ends can be calm while the main body is rough. Size puts it in the front rank of our Kenora District list. Sioux Lookout at 76 km is the nearest place to stop. Thunder Bay sits 209 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Sturgeon Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Kenora District include northern pike, longnose sucker and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Sturgeon Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -20°C to 17°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. In an average year the thaw lands around early May and the freeze near mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Sturgeon Lake follows the weather closely.

• 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 wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Sprucecone Lake, 3.1 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Sturgeon Lake locally before you travel.