Fishing Wishbone Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Wishbone Lake is an Ontario water. Everything around it is taiga. The water covers some 17 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 3.8 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The closest town, Geraldton, is 21 km distant. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 214 km distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Wishbone Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Thunder Bay District: cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Wishbone Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -18°C in January and 16°C in July. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Time your trip to Wishbone Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Duckling Lake is 2.9 km distant. Confirm access to Wishbone Lake locally before you travel.