Stuart Lake Fishing near Ely, Ontario

• Overview

  Stuart Lake is a Rainy River District water, Ontario side. It stands 378 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to roughly 3.20 sq km, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The margin runs to about 13 km in total. Ely is the closest town at 33 km. Beyond it, Babbitt at 54 km and Atikokan at 69 km. Within a short drive: Nibin Lake after 2.1 km, Bibon Lake sits 2.7 km out, Contest Lake after 2.8 km, Fox Lake sits 2.8 km out and Batista Lake after 3.1 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Stuart Lake

  Published depth figures reach 14 metres at the lowest point. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Rainy River District include northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Stuart Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -16°C in January up to 19°C in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan any trip to Stuart Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. You can camp 590 m off, which suits an early start. Toilets are 830 m away, which matters on a long session. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Nibin Lake, 2.1 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Stuart Lake before loading the car.