Talbot Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Talbot Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The country round it is northern bush from end to end. It measures about 77 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. At about 7.4 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. For supplies, Greenstone is 120 km out. Geraldton is 133 km and Longlac 154 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Talbot Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Talbot Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -20°C in January up to 16°C in July. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Talbot Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Chappais Lake sits 3.4 km off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Talbot Lake if anything is unclear.