Swamp Lake Fishing in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Swamp Lake is a Thunder Bay District water, in Ontario. The bank is 483 metres above sea level. Around 17 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. The full circuit measures close to 3.0 km on foot. It sits higher than most water we list in Ontario. 62 km away sits Lappe, the nearest town. Then Parkdale, 74 km, and County Park, 74 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Swamp Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The county list is broader than any single water. The near bank of Swamp Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 17°C at the top of summer and -19°C at the bottom of winter. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Swamp Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Athelstane Lake, 6 km away. For Swamp Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.