Upper Laponen Lake Fishing Guide, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, this is Upper Laponen Lake. It stands 320 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 16 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The whole outline is near 1.7 km, and most of it is walkable. Most waters listed here for Thunder Bay District are larger. Longlac lies 16 km from the water. Geraldton follows at 44 km, then Greenstone at 59 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Upper Laponen Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Upper Laponen Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 16°C and January near -19°C on the long-run figures. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Upper Laponen Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A jetty or pier is mapped about 190 m from here. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Laponen Lake at 1.4 km is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Upper Laponen Lake in what we hold.