Upper McGill Lake Fishing in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Upper McGill Lake sits in Thunder Bay District, out in Ontario. The land about it is taiga. Surface area is around 43 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 4.0 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. For supplies, Manitouwadge is 33 km out. Beyond it, Hornepayne at 60 km and Wawa at 118 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Upper McGill Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Thunder Bay District: cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Upper McGill Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in July and bottom out at -18°C in January. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Upper McGill Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try McGill Lake, 2.5 km away. The position on Upper McGill Lake is worth confirming on the day.