Upper Flanders Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Upper Flanders Lake lies in Thunder Bay District, in Ontario. What surrounds it is boreal forest. The water covers around 1.64 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Shoreline length is close to 13 km, and each section fishes a little differently. It is among the larger waters listed here for Thunder Bay District. The closest town, Manitouwadge, is 39 km distant. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 301 km away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Upper Flanders Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish Upper Flanders Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 16°C on average, January about -18°C. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. The lid tends to go about early May and return around mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Upper Flanders Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Poppy Lake sits 3.1 km off and takes the overflow. The position on Upper Flanders Lake is worth confirming on the day.