Fishing at Upper Twin Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Upper Twin Lake belongs to Thunder Bay District. The surface lies 297 metres up. This is big water, about 16.89 sq km, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. The perimeter is close to 42 km, and wind can be flat in one arm and rough in the next. Size puts it in the front rank of our Thunder Bay District list. The closest town, Longlac, is 39 km distant. Geraldton is 50 km and Greenstone 59 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Upper Twin Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Read Upper Twin Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -20°C in January to roughly 16°C in July. Little of the calendar is open water, so timing counts for everything. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. That is the shape of the year on Upper Twin Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Shamokan Lake, 4.6 km away. Confirm access to Upper Twin Lake locally before you travel.