Kelsey Lake in Rainy River District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Rainy River District, Ontario. The water sits 363 metres up. The water covers some 54 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. For supplies, Ely is 44 km out. For a city, Thunder Bay is 206 km off. Also on the doorstep: Mug Lake out at 2.4 km, Arch Lake near enough 4.1 km, Wabang Lake out at 4.5 km, Yabut Lake near enough 5.1 km and Bass Lake out at 5.2 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Kelsey Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Rainy River District include northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and walleye. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Kelsey Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 19°C and January about -16°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Anyone fishing Kelsey Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A campsite is mapped about 1 km away, which makes an early start easier. Toilets are 320 m away, which matters on a long session. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Mug Lake is 2.4 km distant. For Kelsey Lake in particular, ask before you travel.