Emerald Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Rainy River District end of Ontario holds Emerald Lake. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. At about 29 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Roughly 3.4 km of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Nearest place of any size is Ely, 40 km away. Further out sit Babbitt (58 km) and Atikokan (72 km). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Emerald Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Rainy River District cover northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Read Emerald Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 19°C, the coldest about -16°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Climate figures give an open season running late April to mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Emerald Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A campsite is mapped about 310 m away, which makes an early start easier. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Shohola Lake is 1.4 km distant. Nothing on Emerald Lake should be assumed from this page alone.