Zapus Lake in Thunder Bay District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, this is Zapus Lake. It sits at 352 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 42 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline length is close to 6.9 km, and each section fishes a little differently. Longlac lies 42 km from the water. Manitouwadge lies 51 km off, Geraldton another 53 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Zapus Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Anyone new to Zapus Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 16°C, the coldest about -18°C. The window is narrow, and fish feed hard while it lasts. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Zapus Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Ploughshare Lake is 1.7 km off. Rules at Zapus Lake are worth checking on the day.