north west ontario and sunset country fishing 2015

COVERCOVER

NW & Sunset Country 1st EDITION

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2015

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9937 Anglers Atlas Print Ad_8x10.5_FA.indd 1 2015-04-23 4:10 PM

Northwest and Sunset Country Fishing 2015 Free maps at www.AnglersAtlas.com

Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist. Base Map © Province of Ontario

NORTHWEST AND SUNSET COUNTRY KEY MAP

If you’re in Northwestern On-tario, there is no need to go

anywhere else to fish. This re-gion has everything: from salm-on to perch, crappie to whitefish, Northwestern Ontario has ev-ery type of fish an angler could want.

Lakes are deep and cool. From Canadian Shield to boreal forest, the terrain is rugged and rocky, though often surprisingly gentle and accessible.

In our first map book for North-

western Ontario, we cover lakes from the Manitoba border all the way to northeast of Wawa. It’s a vast area, and we haven’t even brushed the surface.

We’ve got some gems in here. Rainy Lake in the west is one of the largest, along with Lac Seul and Lac des Mille Lacs. We cover many that are much smaller, but no less thrilling for great fishing.

Most lakes that we’ve covered are good walleye lakes, andmany of them are trophy-stan-dard, world-class destinations.

Just as often, they are your local lake just out of town, perfect for a quick evening cast.

We’re finding, too, that many of the lakes in the Northwest region are well-suited to fly fish-ing. There is a growing number of anglers who are hooking into the thrill of catching a monster fish on the fly.

Wherever you go in Northwest-ern Ontario, you are into spec-tacular fishing. We hope you enjoy this book! For all of these maps, you’ll find hundreds more at www.anglersatlas.com.

NORTHWEST AND SUNSET COUNTRY FISHING 2015

PublisherSean Simmons

Production Co-ordinatorKathy Buhler

Contributors: Tom Batiuk, Kevin Green, Alycia Mutual, Linda Rice, Gary Skrzek, Daniel Soares.

Sales: Kevin Dergez, Ashley Rae

Advertising sales, printing and distribution managed by Glacier Media Inc.

Northwest and Sunset Country Fishing 2015 is part of The Angler’s Atlas and is owned by Goldstream Publishing Inc.

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ABRAM LAKE

Abram Lake is long and deep, perfect for the large

fish that inhabit it. The fish-ing action can be excellent on Abram Lake, as well as on the surrounding lakes.With a lake packed full of wall-eye and pike, anglers generally catch fish on Abram Lake, and a lot of them. There are some great pike hangouts in the shallow areas. The lake is also certainly deep enough to keep the walleye happy.Pike are generally not very fussy when it comes to food. They can be tempted by a wide range of lures. Usually hanging out in weedy areas for much of the summer, pike will hide in cover until their prey comes to them, at which point they grab it fast.Start off with f l a s h y

colours. Any combination of sil-ver is a good bet. Silver and hot pink, or silver and red can be a win. Blue and silver can work well, too.As the fall arrives, pike will start moving around in the lake. Sometimes they will head for deeper water, and start looking for food rather than waiting for it. Walleye are plentiful in Abram Lake, and can make for some fast fish-ing. Normally w a l l e y e a v o i d t h e

light, and the deep waters of

Abram Lake allow them to satisfy this need. One of

the tricks for walleye fishing is to go down to where the fish are. While they do tend to chase their prey, they need to see it, first. Go

down deep, and troll low andslow with minnows or leeches as bait. Linda Rice, from Moosehorn Lodge on Lac Seul, says that there are also bass in Abram Lake, and they can be a blast for fly fishers. She says that sev-eral of her guests like to travel to Abram and the surrounding lakes for the bass fishing.

LAKE ACCESS

Abram Lake is locat-ed right in Sioux

Lookout, and there are several access points to the lake. There are also several different accom-modation options. Moosehorn Lodge is on Lac Seul, with options for day trips on Abram Lake. See their site at canadafish.com.

Surface Area• 2,396 Hectares

(5,920 Acres)

Maximum Depth• 37 metres (120 feet)

Elevation (ASL)• 359 metres (1,177 feet)

Survey Date• July 1968

Contour Units• Feet

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ARETHUSA LAKE

Arethusa Lake, south of Sioux Lookout, is one of

many area lakes that are great for walleye and pike fishing. Like Abram Lake just north, it is deep enough for walleye, and has enough shallow water forgreat pike habitat.Arethusa Lake is a great wilder-ness lake. It does get busy at times, but the fish are plentifuland can be a decent size.Walleye w i l l tend to be in

deeper water, and it’s really helpful to get down to the bot-tom when going after them. Touch the bottom, and drag your leech slowly. One popular method for going after walleye is to use Go-Getters, a set up with a lure and beads. Another option is to t r o l l

flats with slip rigs, and floaters with leeches.Walleye tend

to hang out more in the southwest end of the lake, near and in the narrows.

One nice thing about Arethusa Lake

is that it’s

fairly sheltered from the wind. It’s a nice, calm lake. While walleye tend to be more active in the wind, the calmness of

Arethusa Lake doesn’t seem to stop them.

LAKE ACCESS

From Ignace, Arethusa Lake is about 50 km north. The

road can be fairly bumpy, and dusty, so drivers may want to cover their boats. There are several accommoda-tion options in the area. Many different lodges are located on lakes in the area, and will do outpost packages for guests.

There are also lots of campingoptions available.

Surface Area• 782 Hectares

(1,932 Acres)


Elevation (ASL)• Unknown

Survey Date• August 1971


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BARIL LAKE


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Baril Lake is large and deep, and has a good fishery for

pike and bass. Both are fond of warmer water, and both will be found in similar locations in the lake.The bass are plentiful in Baril Lake, and the pike are quite large.

Although the lake can be

somewhat busy at

times,

it gets less fishing pressure than nearby Lac des Milles Lacs. As a result, the fishing can be a little easier. Bass will hang in the shallows in the early season, and anglers should look for gravel areas. Target the bass in less than about 6 metres. As the weather warms up, the bass will move to deeper areas. They’ll be more likely to feed around larger rocks at this time,

and will look for cooler water in the mid- to late summer. You want to go deep for them, but not too deep. Soft plastics, frogs and crayfish can be good choices. Pike, too, will enjoy the shal-low weedy areas in the spring and early season. They are explosive when theystrike, and your gear

should be a little heavier for these lunkers. Pike like to hide in the weeds, waiting for their prey. Later in the summer, pike will also look for cooler water, though they don’t go as deep as walleye. Sparkly colour combi-nations will catch their attention. Try silver with just about any-thing, particularly red and blue.Take a look at the Angler’s Atlas page for Baril Lake. Add your photos, fishing tips and map markers. Membership is

free, and you can sign up to fol-low your favourite lakes. Get all the latest information. See anglersatlas.com/lake/108172.

LAKE ACCESS

Baril Lake is about 150 km northwest of Thunder Bay.

Take Hwy 17 west of town for about 51 km. Turn onto the Trans Canada and drive just over 72 km. Turn right onto Brule Creek Road. Local maps are a good idea, as backroads can be tricky to navigate if you’re unfa-miliar with the area.


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DOGTOOTH LAKE

Dogtooth Lake, near Kenora, is a pop-

ular lake for outdoor enthusiasts. Along with Dogtooth Lake, the many other lakes and park areas nearby are well-used.Dogtooth Lake is knownfor its excellent pike and walleye fishing. The lake is very deep, and quite narrow in most places. There are some larger pools in the centre. These are some of the best places for walleye. T h e y prefer the low l i g h t c o n -

ditions, and while they are in shallower water in the early spring, for the most part they will hang in deeperpools. Some of the most popular walleye lures are Go-Getters.Dogtooth Lake, as well as the surrounding waterbodies, are very rocky and irregular, which are perfect for pike. The cover offers them hiding spots, where

t h e y are more easily able to hide from their prey. These feisty fish are not fussy about their food,and can be caught with almost anything. These same rocky areas are great cover for bass. Bass are found throughout the lake, and are great fishing year-round.

known for excel-

lent pike and walleye fishing. Also known for

lots of submerged rocks.

LAKE ACCESS

From Kenora, take the Trans Canada Hwy

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(6,739 Acres)



Survey Date• Unknown


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Dog Lake is another popular lake that boasts not only great fish-

ing, but also canoeing, hiking and other exceptional outdoor oppor-tunities. Dog Lake is known for its wall-eye fishing. There are many parts

of the lake that drop off quite quickly,

a n d

also many shallow areas that offer walleye rich habitat year round.Walleye will take advantage of all of this. In the spring, they can be found in the shallow areas. They will be feeding heavily, and are more likely to take your bait because they’re hungry.In the deep heat of summer, however, they will head for cooler water with the bait fish. The depth of the lake also

appeals to the walleye pref-erence for dark. They tend to avoid the light, and

will usually be less active

on bright, calm days.K e v i n Green, from R o m p p a i s Outdoors in Thunder Bay, says that the

fishing can also be good for pike,

bass and white-fish.

LAKE ACCESS

From Thunder Bay, turn right onto Silver Falls Rd off Highway 102.

At roughly 15 km down the road there is a nice beach area at Little Dog Lake (look left). Just past Little Dog Lake, turn left towards the power generating station to find the access point for the Silver Falls hiking trail. Even though the park is non-operating, the trail is main-tained by the Thunder Bay Hiking Association. The trail leads to Dog Falls, Finally, if you continue down Silver Falls road past the generating station (stay right), Silver Falls Rd turns into Shields Rd. Continue down Shields Rd until the next fork (go left) and continue until you reach the Silver Falls campground area on Dog Lake. Kevin Green, from Romppais Outdoors, says that there are several boat launches around the lake. Stop by Romppais Outdoors to get more infor-

mation.

DOG LAKE NORTH AND EAST (THUNDER BAY)

Surface Area• Approx. 100 sq. km.





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Esnagi Lake is one of the lakes we feature that has no road

access. However, rather than exclu-sively fly-in, anglers heading to Esnagi Lake also have the option of taking the train. However you get there, the walleye are worth the trip.Walleye really prefer the deeper water, as their eyes are sensitive to light. They are also more able to see in murky water, which gives them an advantage when hunting their prey.In the early season, try the bays and creek mouths for walleye. They will be in shallower, gravelly water at that time. In the summer months, go deep. Try twister tails, Go-Getters, split-tail minnow grubs and shad-tail minnow grubs. It’s worthwhile at this time to also look for the deeper weed-beds. Walleye will be in cooler water, and pike will follow them. Reports are that Esnagi Lake has a good mayfly hatch in the summer. This can be a great time to fish for walleye. Pike in Esnagi Lake are going to be generally where the walleye are. In the early months, pike love the shal-lower water. Again, Esnagi Lake has many back bays that are attrac-tive for pike. While they will go after just about anything, it’s worth-while to note that large spoons,

buzz baits, and minnows are great choices. Look for the shoals and drop offs, and follow the contours of the underwater structures.One of the real draws of Esnagi Lake is that it’s one of the few places in Ontario where it’s practical to fly fish. A s

noted, the mayfly

hatch is superb, and this time can be

perfect for fly anglers looking to match the hatch.

All fish can be taken on the fly with the right gear. As with tradi-

tional lure fishing, aim for heavier gear for heavier fish.Mar Mac Lodge, on Esnagi Lake, recommends that anglers try min-now patterns, Zonkers, Dahlberg Divers. In the middle season, troll-ing flies can work well, though cast-ing and stripping back is better for spring and fall.

LAKE ACCESS

Esnagi Lake is accessible by plane or train only. There are

several different lodges on the lake offering transportation as well as accommodation.Mar Mac Lodge has some excel-lent fishing tips on their website, and offer various packages for fish-ing trips. Check out their website at www.marmaclodge.com.

ESNAGI LAKE


(11,332 Acres)





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GRANITEHILL LAKE

Granitehill Lake, clear and cold, features great fish

habitat and large fish. There’s a lot of interesting underwater structure, creating lots of places for fish to hang out.Granitehill, along with connect-ing lake Obakamiga (or Buck Lake as it’s also known), is a fly-in destination.Walley, pike and perch are the target species in Granitehill Lake. The website for PK Resort notes that there are several sunken islands,and lots of

rocky u n d e r -

water shoals. These are favou-

rite walleye locations, and pike will often be found close by.More usually, the pike will be in the shallow bays. Granitehill Lake has some great sandy areas, and enough weeds to pro-vide shelter for pike lying in wait for their prey.Often, walleye can be caught with some pretty simple meth-

ods, and many anglers will do up a simple jig and minnow. This is easy and effective, as long as you’re get-ting down deep. Especially in the heat of the summer, try to reachbottom.

A possible

e x c e p -tion to this is if

you’re fishing late in the evening and at

night, when the walleye will be feeding heavily closer to the surface.Another good option is to try Lindy Rigs. It’s worthwhile learning the techniques for tying up Lindy Rigs. They can work really well for sunny days and clear water. Even in murky water, a fairly short lead on a Lindy Rig can help bring in the fish. Granitehill Lake’s several shoal areas are good spots to anchor, tie up a Lindy Rig and jig straight up and down.

Take a look at the Angler’s Atlas page for Granite Hill Lake at anglersatlas.com/lake/186121 . Membership is free, and you can post sto-ries, tips and map markers for your favourite lakes.

LAKE ACCESS

Granitehill Lake is fly-in access only. Get in touch

with PK Resort to hear about their transportation options and available fishing packages. See www.pkresort.com for more information.


(3,577 Acres)





QUICK FACTS


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HAMMER LAKE

Hammer Lake is easily acces-sible, located just off the Trans

Canada Highway north of Wawa. It’s a large lake, but it isn’t that deep.Hammer Lake has lots of really good structure, shoal areas and islands. Both pike and walleye will be in the shallows, and in the weedy areas in the spring. As the weather warms up, both will begin to be more active. Try the areas around the islands. There is some good shallow water out from the big island in the mid-dle, and some g o o d rocky areas to the north. These are going to be ideal places for wall-eye in the sum-mer.If you’re going after walleye, try some bright colours in the early season. Chartreuse, hot pink, and bright green can be good choices. Later in the season, though, try more natural colours. Brown, black, white and olive can be useful at these times. A weighted jig with a twister tail is a common setup and can work well to catch fish.Many of the same techniques in the same areas will catch pike, and often when anglers are going after

walleye, they catch pike by chance. It can be a lot of fun, too, to use lures that are specifically geared towards pike. Some larger spoons and crank baits are good for going after pike. Hammer Lake also known for its canoeing opportuni-ties. One popular canoe route starts in Hammer Lake and goes

through several lakes before ending up just south of Obatanga Park.

LAKE ACCESS

Hammer Lake is about 65 km north of Wawa along

the Trans Canada Hwy. Accommodations are

available in Wawa, and Obatanga Park offers camping.


(1,132 Acres)



Survey Date• June 1972


QUICK FACTS




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HAWKEYE LAKE

Hawkeye Lake is a great lake right outside of Thunder

Bay. It’s close to several other excellent fishing lakes as

well.

Hawkeye is great for its walleye and pike, and also for bass fishing. There is a really good population of small-mouth bass in Hawkeye Lake.Kevin Green, from Romppais Outdoors in Thunder Bay, says that the fly fishing for top water smallmouth can be great.There are reports that there are whitefish in Hawkeye Lake. The common advice is to head to the northeastern end of the lake.

This is also where the walleye tend to hang out. Try dropping your jig right to the bottom of the lake. From there, drag it very slowly along the bottom, jerking it up every so often. Hawkeye Lake is close to both Dog Lake and Little Hawkeye Lake, both of which also offer great fishing. Also, at the north-east end of Hawkeye Lake, a small channel connects to Spike Lake.

LAKE ACCESS

From Thunder Bay, take Hwy 102 to 589. Turn left onto

Hwy 591 and follow it north. It becomes Gillbride Rd, which leads around the western side of the lake. Hawkeye Lake Rd. east connects to Gillbride, and leads around the other side of the lake.

There are many privately-owned camps around the lake, though there is public access in places. Kevin Green, from Romppais Outdoors in Thunder Bay, says that there are two boat launches on the lake. Reports are that one of them is fairly shallow.

Stop by Romppais Outdoors to find out more.

Add your own photos, vid-eos and map markers to your favourite lakes, and you could win prizes! See anglersatlas.com/spotlight/706125 for more information. Contest runs until September, 2015, though we wel-come all of your submissions all year long.




Survey Date• March 1989


QUICK FACTS



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HAZELWOOD LAKE

Hazelwood Lake is a great little spot.

It’s close to Thunder Bay, has decent fish-ing and is home to pike and walleye. There are also perch in Hazelwood Lake.Kevin Green, from Romppais Outdoors in Thunder Bay, says that t h e

lake is the focal point of the popular conservation area surrounding, and including, Hazelwood Lake.Pike fishing can be good in Hazelwood Lake. Jigs and minnows are a good setup, particularly in the summer. Also in the summer, it may help to target pike in some of

the drop-off areas. While these are more commonly walleye

spots, you can sometimes find big pike there as well.Check out The Angler’s Atlas page for Hazelwood Lake at anglersat-las.com/lake/116619. Add your tips and map markers and follow your favourite lakes for the latest news.

LAKE ACCESS

Hazelwood Lake Conservation Area is located 14 km north on

Hazelwood Drive. Follow Dawson Road (Highway 102) past County Fair Plaza to Hazelwood Drive. Turn right on Hazelwood Drive and follow it to the end at Hazelwood Lake Conservation Area.There are trails, a canoe launch on the southern arm, and a visitor cen-tre. There is no camping, however it is close to Thunder Bay, and there

are other camping oppor-tunities around the city.

There’s also a beach and picnic area at

the boat launch. Surface Area• 278 Hectares

(687 Acres)





QUICK FACTS


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Kabinakagami Lake is large, and has fabulous islands, shoals

and underwater structure. The fish-ing is superb, with walleye and pike being the name of the game here. Members of The Angler’s Atlas have posted several photos of lunker fish on the lake page for Kabinakagami Lake. The under-water structure is perfect habitat for walleye and pike. Kaby Lake, as it’s sometimes known, is not that deep, though there are some good pools in the north-east that are great for walleye to hang. They will often concentrate in the weeds and rocky areas near these deep holes.If it’s pike you’re after, some of the best spots can be the shallower areas in the northeast, as well as the southern bays. Try trolling or casting small crankbaits. Cast towards the shal-low, flat, weedy areas. Another option for pike is to let out a tube jig. For these, sometimes targetting drop offs and rocky

areas can bring in the

pike, even though these aren’t traditional pike hangouts.

Check out The Angler’s Atlas page for Kaby Lake at anglersatlas.com/lake/102279.

LAKE ACCESS

Kabinakagami Lake is a fly-in lake. There are several resorts

and outfitters around the lake offer-ing transportation and accommoda-tion. One such place is Watson’s Kaby Lodge at kabyswilderness-vacations.ca.

KABINAKAGAMI LAKE


(29,694 Acres)





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Aptly-named Lac des Milles Lacs is one of the Northwest

region’s most popular lakes, and for good reason. Lac des Milles Lacs is large enough to accommodate the considerable fishing pressure, and still retains some good sized fish.One of the many nice things about fishing Lac des Milles Lacs is that there are many spots that are shel-tered, making this large lake a good time even if your boat is small. Kevin Green, from Romppais Outdoors, says that Lac des Mille Lacs has, “blossomed into a good smallmouth bass fishery.”Lac des Mille Lacs is not crystal-clear. The stained colour makes it easier for walleye to see their prey, making it more likely that they will be active, even during daylight. All sorts of techniques work well in the lakes of Northwestern Ontario, and Lac des Mille Lacs is no excep-

tion. Green says that most anglers use live bait (generally minnows and worms), crankbaits, spinners, spoons and jigs. One untraditional method for pike involves using Senkos and Sluggers, which are large, plastic baits.In the early part of the year, walleye are more likely to be in small groups or even solitary. However, in the summer, they tend to stay in schools, and where you find one, you’ll likely find lots more. Spring fishing may require more movement (or more patience), but in the summer, a n g l e r s who hook into a school of walleye can be set for hours. Some of the best walleye spots are around the Savanne River. Also try Rock Bay and Sand Point. Green reminds anglers to be aware of the regulations and slot sizes for walleye.For pike, who are generally solitary creatures, there is a lot of tradi-tional pike habitat: shallower, weedy


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LAC DES MILLE LACS

Surface Area• 245 sq. km.





QUICK FACTS

areas. However, sometimes it’s worthwhile to shake things up a bit and try targetting pike in a walleye zone. It has been said that a tube jig let down in a rocky drop off, will

cause a pike strike.

Make sure your gear is up to the chal-lenge if you’re going after pike. Their razor-sharp teeth are apt to bite through light lines. Kevin Green notes that ice fishing on Lac des Mille Lacs is spec-

tacular. Both pike and wall-eye are easily caught through the ice. There are rental com-panies that will rent ice huts, even for overnight accommo-dations.

LAKE ACCESS

Lac Des Mille Lacs is about 160 km northwest

of Thunder Bay along Hwy 17.

Access to the lake is via the Savanne River and by various

gravel roads wich branch off south of HWY. 17 to tourist outfitters and public access points. Most of these roads are posted along HWY 17. Upsula is located about 10 miles west of the Savanne River.There are many lodges and camps around Lac des Mille Lacs. Most offer boat rentals and launches. Kevin Green, from Romppais Outdoors, cautions boaters that because the lake is so large, and with so many channels, boaters should use a GPS if navigating any distance from a boat launch. He also reminds anglers that there are many rock hazards in the lake.There are several public boat launches around the lake. Stop by Romppais Outdoors in Thunder Bay and talk with the helpful staff for locations of public access points.




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One of the most fabulous rea-sons to fish Lac Seul is its

huge muskie. There are many muskie lakes in Ontario, though pike and walleye are more com-mon in the northwest. Lac Seul is becoming well-known for its muskie population. Linda Rice is the owner of Moosehorn Lodge. She notes that you may not catch muskie every time out, “but when you do, they’re huge.” Rice, by the way, holds the ladies’ world record for largest muskie.Rice says that Lac Seul is almost like 4 separate lakes. “In the east-ern sections, we’ve got muskie, pike, bass, perch and walleye. But in the west, there are lake trout and whitefish.”Anderson’s Lodge, which has a fly-in outpost on Lac Seul, says that muskie can be found in weed beds to submerged logs, reefs, sand and rocks. They are regularly caught either casting or trolling. Like pike, they have very sharp teeth, and you’ll want to make sure your gear is heavy enough to manage their size. They’ll target both topwater and sinking lures. Spinner baits, blades and bucktails are all good. Anderson’s Lodge suggests a Top Raider or one of the Pig line of baits. They say a Suick in topwa-ter is an essential. There are some monster pike in Lac Seul, too, and Moosehorn Lodge has the pictures to show it. Rice notes that the huge sizes are not that typical of pike in the lake, though they are there.Rice says that the fly fishing on Lac Seul is terrific. “You can fly fish for anything, anywhere on Lac Seul,” she says, “and it’s probably

b e s t early in the y e a r when the fish haven’t begun to go deep.”There are bass in Lac Seul, mostly in the southeast. Leeches, minnows and crayfish can all be effective for bass, depending on the time of year.Some consider Lac Seul to be the “walleye capital of the world.” That may sound like an exaggeration, however, there is no denying that Lac Seul is fabulous wall-eye habitat. Rice says that this is most apparent in the eastern part of the lake, where there are significant areas of spawning habitat.The underwater structure in Lac Seul is so complex that a really good depth finder is probably a handy thing to have if you’re boating on the lake.Rice says that the fishing is con-sistent all year, though for wall-eye, it’s really good right around the opening of the season.Speaking with her, she described the weather that day as being windy and overcast, the perfect walleye day.As with Lac des Mille Lacs, there are innumerable sheltered loca-tions that are fine for small boats. In fact, smaller boats may be ideal in many places on Lac Seul, because access and rocks can make it a difficult trip otherwise.

Check out The Angler’s Atlas page for Lac Seul at anglersatlas.com/lake/102302. Members can add photos, videos, stories and map markers. LAKE ACCESS

There are numerous public access points, boat launches

and beaches around Lac Seul, as well as dozens of privately-operated lodges and camps. For detailed access directions, call one of the lodges around the lake, or stop by a tackle shop in Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout or even Thunder Bay.




Page 19Northwest andNorthwest andNorthwest Sunset Country Sunset Country Sunset Fishing Country Fishing Country 2015 Fishing 2015 Fishing Free maps at www.AnglersAtlas.com

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LAC SEUL

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FIND A LODGE ON LAC SEUL:

Anderson’s Lodge: andersonslodge.comFisherman’s Cove:lacseulfishermanscove.comGoose Bay Camp: lacseul.comLac Seul Evergreen Lodge: lacseulwalleye.comLac Seul Lodge: lacseullodgeinc.comLost Island Lodge: lostislandlodge.comMahkwa Lodge: mahkwalodge.comMoosehorn Lodge: canadafish.com; [email protected] Lodge: [email protected] Lodge: winoga.comWhitewing Resort: whitewingresort.comSilver Water Wheel Lodge: ssw-lodge.com

Surface Area• 1,657 sq. km.




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LONGPINE LAKE

Lo n g -pine Lake is a small lake situated right near the Manitoba border. It’s fairly shallow, and it’s a great lake for bass. Just across the Manitoba border from Longpine is West Hawk Lake. This is a fabulous bass fishing location as well. It can really challenge anglers, because it’s very deep and quite clear, and the bass will see you com-ing. However, it can also be very rewarding, and many bass anglers have a soft spot for West Hawk Lake.Some other lakes in the area are Whitefish Lake, Macara Lake and Royal Lake. Royal Lake is reportedly a good spot for pike, walleye, perch and bass. Macara Lake, too, is full of bass.

Add y o u r p h o -tos, tips and map markers to the page for Longpine Lake at anglersatlas.com/lake.119034. Membership is free. While you’re there, follow your favou-rite lakes and be notified when-ever new information is posted.Posting information can win you prizes! Visit anglersat-las.com/spotlight/706125 for information. Contest runs until September, 2015.

LAKE ACCESS

From Kenora, access to Longpine Lake is first via

the Trans Canada Hwy west, through the Manitoba bor-der. Take the turn off to Hwy 44 north, and back through to Ontario via Hwy 312.Access to Macara Lake is just on the other side of the highway from Longpine. Access to Royal Lake is off of the Trans Canada Hwy just before the Ontario / Manitoba border.


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NAGAGAMI LAKE

Nagagami Lake Provincial Reserve is along the eastern

corner of the lake.Fly fishing is always a thrill, though there are many lakes in Ontario where this sport isn’t nec-essarily practical. The high, rocky ledges in many lakes often mean that trolling in deep water is the most effi-cient way to fish a lake. On Nagagami Lake, however, fly fishing by boat is known to work well, even for the monsters like pike.If you’re target-ting pike on the fly, just like with lures, you want to go big and you want the fly to be bright. Pike aren’t fussy, but b r i g h t l y coloured flies will ensure that the offering is noticed.Check out The Angler’s Atlaspage for Nagagami Lake at anglersatlas.com/lake/102359. Add your map markers and fish-ing stories. Trip reports are always especially welcome! Membership is free. You can also follow your

favourite lakes so you get notified when new

information is posted.LAKE ACCESS

Fly-in access only. There are a few lodges around the lake

that provide accommodation and transportation.


(13,251 Acres)


Elevation (ASL)• 290 metres (950 feet)



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Beautiful, remote Oba Lake is one of the lakes we fea-

ture that has fly-in or train-in access only. While it may take some planning to get here, the fishing pressure is much lower than at other, more accessible lakes.While summer fishing is fan-tastic, many people really enjoy Oba Lake’s ice fishing opportu-nities. Walleye, pike and perch are all sought after.One of the beauties about ice fishing Oba Lake is that because the sun sets earlier, walleye can be more active. Walleye tend to prefer low light conditions for feeding. The darkness helps them conceal themselves from predators and makes them hard-er for their prey to spot. Ice fishing for pike can be excit-ing and rewarding. Pike are known for their lack of discrimi-nation when it comes to food choices, and jigging a minnow is an easy way to entice them.The open water season can be just as memorable. Oba Lake offers several deep holes for walleye, and lots of rocky struc-ture for pike.

Anglers who enjoy fly fishing are in for a real treat on Oba Lake. The mayfly hatch in June and July is fabu-lous. Whitefish and herring are the prime targets for fly fishers here.Those wanting to test new ground for fly fish-ing can try hook-ing into some of the huge walleye. Walleye often prefer windy or rainy days, or low light condi-tions. Flies should mimic natural food choices, such as minnows.If you’re usinglures, Gary S k r z e kf r o m

w a l l -e y e -

h e a v e n .com sug-

gests using bright colours in the spring. If the fish are feeding,these colours will attract

them, and if they’re not, the bright colours will aggravate them and entice

a bite.In the summer, he suggests more natural colours such

as white, brown, orblack. Cast, and then

retrieve slowly, especially during hot summer days.

The Angler’s Atlas page for Oba Lake is at

anglersatlas.com/lake/102371.

LAKE ACCESS

Oba Lake is a fly-in or train-in lake. There are back-

roads that go within a couple of kilometers of the lake, but no direct roads.

OBA LAKE


(6,067 Acres)





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OBAKAMIGA LAKE

Obakamiga Lake is a fly-in lake with very large

pike and walleye. With so many islands and so much under-water structure, it’s perfect walleye habi-tat. There are enough shallower spots to make the pike happy, and plenty of weeds for hiding.If you’re after pike, try the bay at the n o r t h endof the l ake . I t ’ s weedier up there. There’s a deep d r o poff, and then it l e v e l sout.If you’re after walleye, try min-nows, bottom bouncers and worm harnesses. There are lots of rocky drop offs, and lots of walleye to be had at many ofthem.

T h e A n g l e r ’ s Atlas page

for Obakamiga Lake is at

anglersatlas.com/l a k e / 1 8 6 1 2 0 .M e m b e r s h i p is free, and trip reports and map markers are always welcome! Follow your

f a v o u r i t e l a k e s a n dfind out whenever

new infor-mation is

posted.

LAKE ACCESS

Obakamiga Lake is fly-in access only.

There are lodges around the lake, and they offer

accommodation and trans-portation.


(7,078 Acres)





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POKEI LAKE

Pokei Lake is just north of Wawa. With its gradual slopes and the

wetlands at the northern edge, Pokei Lake is great pike territory.The shallow areas at the south of the lake are prime spots for pike to lurk. As well, there are several weedy areas in the lake. Pike will hide in the weeds and strike quickly when prey is near.Please be aware that Ontario Fishing Regulations prohibit the possession and use of live bait in Pokei Lake.Pokei Lake is popular as part of a canoe circuit. The northern edge of Pokei Lake borders on The Pokei Lake White River Wetlands Provincial Park, a non-operating wetlands conservation area. The White River is at the north end of the lake. Good for walleye and pike, popular as a canoe route (the White River and Pukaskwa River Routes).The White River, which flows through Pokei Lake, has been identi-fied as a sturgeon spawning ground.

LAKE ACCESS

Pokei Lake is about 82 km north of Wawa via the Trans Canada

Hwy. There is a forest access road that runs along the eastern edge of the Pokei Lake White River Wetlands, but the road doesn’t go into the park. Ensure you have a good set of backroads maps before ven-

turing out, as it’s easy to get turned around. Pokei Lake White River Wetlands Provincial Park is on the northern edge of the lake.


(1,958 Acres)





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705-949-0770



705-949-0770



Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist. Base Map © Province of Ontario navigational This not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards

POSHKOKAGANLAKE

Walleye and pike abound in Poshkokagan Lake, north

of Thunder Bay.The shallower northern areas are great places to go after pike. If you’re after walleye, the deep-er sections in the south would be a good place to start. Reports are that walleye are on the small side, but plentiful.In the spring, as well, this is the spot to be. The Poshkokagan River flows into the lake at the south end, and walleye will be around here in the early season.

LAKE ACCESS

From Thunder Bay, take the Trans Canada Hwy north

for about 4 km. Turn onto Hwy 527 for 88 km.If you’re familiar with the lake, visit The Angler’s Atlas page for Poshkokagan Lake and mark the map with access points and boat launches. Until September, 2015, new map markers for boat launches could win you prizes! Visit anglersatlas.com/spot-light/706125 for details.The page for Poshkokagan Lake is anglersatlas.com/lake/102409. Add your map markers, photos, stories and

more, and follow your favou-rite lakes to find out when new information is posted. From now until September, 2015, you might even win prizes for your posts! See anglersatlas.com/spotlight/706125 for details.


(2,574 Acres)





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1164 RolandStreet

Thunder Bay, ON

807-622-0001



Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. This map may not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards may exist. Base Map © Province of OntarioCaution: Do not this for navigational This not reflect current conditions. Uncharted hazards exist. Base Map © Province of Ontario of Ontario of

Note: Map is of east end of Rainy Lake only. For a more complete map, visit The Angler’s Atlas at anglersatlas.com/lake/140958

RAINY LAKE (EAST END)

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THE GREAT BEAR,



If you want a world-class destina-tion for bass, walleye, pike and

crappie, Rainy Lake is it. With 2200 islands, three distinct areas and 300 square kilometers of water, Rainy Lake tops them all in the western end of Ontario.Tom Batiuk, of HSM Outdoors, says he has been fishing Rainy Lake since 2006. “I’ve been fishing this lake for 9 years and I still haven’t fished it all,” he muses.Rainy Lake is a top bass lake. In fact, for all species of fish, Rainy Lake produces huge fish and huge numbers, which isn’t common. In the north, the clearer water is interestingly enough, a better wall-eye spot that the darker coloured water of the South Arm. Batiuk says that if you want trophy walleye, go north. If you’re looking for larger numbers of good eating fish, Batiuk would take you to Red Gut Bay.

Some of the best fishing is in the spring. There’s a two-week period or so where the walleye sanctuaries are open and the fish are still there. Batiuk says that they stay where the food is. If the water is staying cooler, and the bait fish are still there, the walleye will hang out.Some of the best fishing in Rainy Lake is for bass. “There is an abso-lutely amazing top water bite for bass,” Batiuk emphasizes. “You can catch 4 lb bass all day long.”Try popper baits, he says. “Cast, let the weight go, snap it so you get a pop, and pause. Snap and pause. Bass just love that.”Batiuk’s favourite fish, though, is crappie. “For table fare, they’re way better than walleye, even,” he says. “They can be tricky to find, but once you do, they’re easy to catch.”Crappie spawn in water around 63 degrees F, and can be caught with a light jig and slip bobber, or a hair jig with a slip bobber about 18 to 24 inches up. Cast into the shallows. It’s as easy as that, says Batiuk.There is so much structure in Rainy Lake. Batiuk says that fish really love transitions. Walleye, for exam-ple, prefer broken rocks with struc-ture to smooth areas. They follow the shiners into the main lake basin.Crappies like weed, to sand, to mud transitions, whereas pike like mud and clay. Bass, he says, like weed, rock and sand transitions. Know

what’s under the water, and you’ll have a better chance of catching the fish.There are so many ways to catch fish in Rainy Lake, Batiuk says. “If you want a trophy pattern, try jerkbaits in July. Or, try spinner baits into pencil weeds for walleye. People don’t generally think of that option.”Fall fishing, he notes, is very simi-lar to summer fishing. Crappie, for example, just need the three Cs: cur-rent, cover and chow. The fish will find a piece of structure in the mud, like a submerged log, and will hang about for the bug life. “There’s so much more,” he says, “and there are good guides and out-fitters all around the lake who will help you get to it.”Find Tom Batiuk on Facebook with HSM Outdoors. He does custom guiding trips. He’s booked up for this year already, but if he can fit you in, he will.

LAKE ACCESS

Rainy Lake is located at Fort Frances. The Trans Canada

Hwy crosses the lake.There are several guides and outfit-ters in and around Fort Frances and Rainy Lake.






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RAINY LAKE

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THUNDER BAY (LAKE SUPERIOR)

In springtime, Thunder Bay region of-fers some of the most exciting wall-

eye fishing in Ontario thanks to a suc-cessful stocking program. Most catches average 14-16 inches, but trophy fish weighing up to 10 lbs. are occasionally reeled in. Thunder Bay is also a great jumping-off spot for salmon and trout fishing.

Pike stocks in Thunder Bay Harbour are starting to increase. While they have always been around, for many years the pike were scarce, and those that could be caught were on the small side. That is starting to change.

The Kaministiquia River, for example, is known for plentiful walleye and pike. A public boat launch is located on the lower river from 106th Avenue on Mission Island or above the James Street Bridge at Mountdale Avenue.

Kevin Green, from Romppais Outdoors,says that the Kaministiquia River also has great fishing for wall-eye, smallmouth bass and crappie. He reminds anglers that sturgeon are pro-tected and can’t be targetted or kept.

Kevin Green notes that there are sev-eral tributaries that flow into Lake Superior around Thunder Bay. All of them get a run of steelhead in the spring, and, to a lesser ex-tent, in the fall as well.

The Current River, which runs within city boundar-ies, features several piers accessible from Fisher-man’s Road where anglers can cast into the r i v e r

mouth. Another op-tion is Boulevard Lake, a swimming reservoir that holds brook trout and pike as well as walleye. Nearby Silver Har-bour is recommended for ice fishing.

LAKE ACCESS

There are many different piers for shore fishing and boat

launches.

Surface Area• Approx. 2,000 sq. km.




Contour Units• Metres

QUICK FACTS

© The Angler’s

Atlas

Romppais.ca

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Produced using only the best components.

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Caution: Do not use this map for navigational purposes. Source data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)



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TWIN LAKE (LOWER)

Lower Twin Lake is remote, yet accessible. Fabulous fishing for

trophy walleye, as well as perch, whitefish and pike. There are also brook trout in the lake.Gary Skrzek, from Walleye Heaven (walleyeheaven.com), says that Lower Twin Lake (and its coun-terpart, Upper Twin Lake), is known for the size of the fish rather than the numbers.“Fish of all sizes get caught but there are an unusual amount of large Walleyes over 10 pounds and Northern Pike over 20 pounds. The reason for the large sizes is the availability of massive amounts of Whitefish to feed on,” Skrzek reports.If you’re able to get to the lake for the appearance of the brook trout, you’re in luck. Skrzek notes that it’s a fleeting occurance.“In early spring large Brook Trout come up the drowning river through Relief Lake and Tooth Lake,” he says. On rare occasions, they can be found at the west end of

Lower Twin Lake where the Drowning River runs out. When they are there, “they are only there for a week or two after ice out and go back down stream below Relief Lake waiting for the May Flies to hatch.”The Drowning River, which itself offers excellent fishing, flows through Upper Twin Lake, into Lower Twin Lake, and exits at the southwest end of Lower Twin Lake. The underwater struc-ture of Lower Twin Lake m a k e s f o rexce l -lent fish habi-

tat. T h e r e

are sandy areas, rocky

structure and a variety of weeds

including Wild Rice and Spider Legs, among others.

LAKE ACCESS

From Nipigon, take the Trans Canada Hwy east for about 193

km. Turn north onto Blueberry Road for about 45.3 km. Turn left onto Twin Lakes Rd. and drive about 4 km in. The road goes between Upper and Lower Twin Lakes. There are lodges and outfitters in the area, all of whom will be able to set you up for a spectacular north-ern fishing experience. Lower Twin Lakes Lodge (lowertwinlakes.com) and Twin Lakes Outfitters (twin-lakes-air.com) are two such places.






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Romppais.ca



TWIN LAKE (UPPER)

Upper Twin Lake offers the same incredible fishing as its coun-

terpart, Lower Twin Lake. It also has some interesting features that enhance its reputation as a trophy walleye lake.Both of these lakes grow large fish. The numbers may not be huge, but the sizes of the fish themselves can be something to write home about.Gary Skrzek, from Walleye Heaven (walleyeheaven.com), sur-mises that the reason is the mas-sive numbers of whitefish on which the walleye feed.Skrzek notes that Pete’s Bay, a long narrow c r e v a s s e on Upper T w i n L a k e , is a

Provincial Fish Sanctuary as this is a major spawning area for Walleye. There are seasonal closures in this area of the lake.

Lower Twin Lakes Lodge offers a number of fishing tips on their

website, and they will have you yearning for a road trip to experience the amazing fish-ing for yourself.

LAKE ACCESS

From Nipigon, take the Trans Canada Hwy

east for about 193 km. Turn north onto Blueberry Road for about 45.3 km. Turn left onto Twin Lakes Rd. and drive about 4 km in. The road goes between Upper and Lower Twin Lakes. The west end of Upper Twin Lake is inside of Nakina Moraine Provincial Park, and non-operating park / con-servation area. There are no facilities in the park.Lower Twin Lakes Lodge operates on Lower Twin Lake. Contact them at lowertwinlakes.com.

Surface Area• Approx. 21 sq. km





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WABATONGUSHI LAKE

Wabatongushi Lake, very deep and large, offers fishing for

huge walleye, and also bass, pike and even trout, if you know how to fish for them.Angler’s Atlas members have marked up the map of Wabatongushi Lake with hot spots, and there are lots of them!The lake is stuffed with fish, and at times they land in the boat faster than you can catch them. That may only a slight exaggeration. Gary Skrzek,from Walleye Heaven (walleye-heaven.com), says that, “there are plenty of 10+ pound Walleyes. Northern Pike average around five pounds but can also reach good sizes with lots of Northern Pike in the ten to fifteen pound range with the occasional twenty pounder. Smallmouth Bass are common up to three pounds.”There are lake trout in Wabatongushi Lake, too, and brook trout in many of the streams. Lake trout love the depths and the cool water, possibly even more so than walleye. They can be caught with similar meth-ods, though trout are somewhat more fussy. Try colours like red and silver, and flashy lures, if you’re targetting trout.Check out the many map markers on the page for Wabatongushi Lake at anglersatlas.com/

lake/102523. Also, from now until September, 2015, add your own map markers and videos to our lake pages, and you could win prizes! See angler-satlas.com/spot-light/706125 for more informa-tion.

LAKE ACCESS

Wabatongushi Lake is north of Wawa. From Wawa, head

north on the Trans Canada Hwy 17 for 42 km. Turn northeast on Hw 519 for nearly 64 km.There are various lodges that offer accommodation. The lake itself is entirely within a game conservation area.


(9,358 Acres)





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705-949-0770



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WAWA LAKE

Wawa Lake’s western edge is right at the edge of the

town of Wawa. Wawa Lake is not known for pike or walleye, unlike most other northwestern / Algoma lakes. Instead, the main sport-fish species are lake trout and whitefish.Lake trout can be great fun to catch. They really like the cool, deep water, and, like walleye, they will head to deep water in the heat of the summer. The underwater structure is not as important to lake trout as it is to walleye, however they do tend to prefer weedy areas, andplaces where there are drop offs.Early mornings and later in the evenings are the best times to fish for lake trout. They tend not to feed in higher water tempera-tures.

Whitefish are a similar story. They are especially active in the spring, and especially so at the mouths of streams, of which there are several on Wawa Lake. Like lake trout, whitefish can grow quite large. Both species are fantastic for fly fishers. The difference will be in presentation. Whereas with lakers, a reasonable choice is a sinking fly pattern, whitefish can go for mayfly patterns, as well as black flies. Dry fly patterns will entice them to feed closer to the surface.Both whitefish and lake trout will respond to small spinners and worms. S m a l l jigs,

dew worms and wax worms are common temptations. In the winter, there is an annual ice fishing derby on Wawa Lake for lake trout and whitefish.The Angler’s Atlas page for Wawa Lake is at anglersatlas.com/lake/102533. We always welcome stories, photos and map markers, and from now until September, 2015, there is extra incentive. You may win prizes for your p o s t s !

C h e c k out angler-

sa t la s . com/spotlight/706125

for all the details.

LAKE ACCESS

Wawa Lake is right at the edge of the town

of Wawa. Stop by local tackle shops for information about access points and boat launches.


(1,675 Acres)





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WHITEFISH LAKE

Whitefish Lake is known for its walleye, perch, bass and pike. Not, however, for its whitefish.Whitefish Lake is not that deep. As a result, the water tends to be warmer than in a deeper lake, and this tends to increase its fertility. This makes for happy bass and pike, which prefer the shallower, weedier water.Even the walleye are happy here, with many heavy fish com-ing out of the lake. If you’re going after walleye, try fishing the edges of drop offs, as well as the edges of weed-beds. Any transition area, like the change between sand and rocks, is a good place to look for walleye.

Walleye can also be found where water is flowing into a lake. Part of the reason for this is that schools of baitfish will be picked up in fast moving water.Some of the best fishing will be after ice-off, in the early spring. Leeches are a good early season choice, followed by minnows as the summer progresses.Fly fishing for walleye is a great time to experiment with sinking lines. In general (though there are always exceptions), walleye are not going to feed near the surface, so your fly needs to go down to where the fish are. Try patterns (and lures) with bright colours when the water is less clear. Pink, chartreuse, orange

are all good

choices. If the water is clear, aim for more laid-back and natural colours like olive, brown and black. Anything minnow-shaped is a good pattern to start off with.There are many other lakes in the area that are excellent not only for bass and walleye, but also for lake trout and brook trout. In fact, the whole area west of Thunder Bay has some of the best fishing in the province so close to town.

LAKE ACCESS

Highway 588 out of Thunder Bay will take you directly

to Whitefish Lake. There is a public boat launch on the north-ern side of the lake. This is the primary access point for Whitefish Lake.


(7,450 Acres)



Survey Date• May 1974


QUICK FACTS





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Water levels can rise

Water near a dam or hydroelectric station can turn dangerous quickly and without warning. OPG is a part of communities across Ontario, so we want you to stay clear and stay safe.

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Chubby Darter

in a matter of seconds.

Water levels can rise

Water near a dam or hydroelectric station can turn dangerous quickly and without warning. OPG is a part of communities across Ontario, so we want you to stay clear and stay safe.

opg.com/watersafety

BP150997

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north west ontario and sunset country fishing 2015

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