Fishing Trousers Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Trousers Lake lies in Thunder Bay District, in Ontario. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. At 2.18 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. At about 19 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. On our Thunder Bay District list it sits near the top for size. Some 45 km away sits Atikokan, the nearest settlement. Ely lies 97 km off, Ignace another 101 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Trousers Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Trousers Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 18°C and January at -17°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Trousers Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Baptism Lake at 4 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Trousers Lake carry more weight than any list.