Pitcher Lake Fishing Guide, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  The Thunder Bay District entry here is Pitcher Lake, in Ontario. The surface lies 581 metres up. It covers about 4 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Thunder Bay District are larger. Grand Marais lies 31 km from the water. After that come Neebing at 68 km and Parkdale at 84 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Pitcher Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Pitcher Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 17°C on average, January about -15°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Pitcher Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is a campsite 1 km from the water. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Ditty Lake sits 0.5 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Pitcher Lake before loading the car.