Fishing Upper Foch Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Upper Foch Lake in the Thunder Bay District part of Ontario. The water sits 356 metres up. Surface area is around 47 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The perimeter runs near 6.1 km, so plan the walk before you start. You are 29 km from Manitouwadge. It is 290 km to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Upper Foch Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Thunder Bay District, recorded fish include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Upper Foch Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -18°C to 16°C. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Upper Foch Lake.

• 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. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Macutagon Lake at 2.6 km is the sensible second choice. Treat Upper Foch Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.