Fishing at Tario Lake, Rainy River District, Ontario

• Overview

  Tario Lake stands in Rainy River District, Ontario. It stands 407 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 70 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. With 5.4 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Supplies mean a trip to Atikokan, 44 km off. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 147 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Tario Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Rainy River District include northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Tario Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 18°C and January near -16°C on the long-run figures. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Tario Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Quinn Lake is 1.5 km distant. Check the current arrangement for Tario Lake.