Hornepayne – Oba Lake

About this water

A true wilderness brook trout destination accessible by road. Oba Lake and the surrounding streams offer native brookies in pristine habitat that few anglers ever reach.

Remote boreal lake with clear, cold water. Minimal development. Excellent water quality.

FMZ 7 regulations — Northern Ontario — Lake Superior north shore inland

Straddles northeastern and northwestern Ontario with a long stretch of Lake Superior shoreline. To the south it follows Lake Superior from the Nipigon River to the Michipicoten River; Hearst and Nakina lie along its northern boundary. It takes in Michipicoten Island's surrounding area and contains Pukaskwa National Park country and the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve.

• Walleye: open all year; S-4/C-2 with size restrictions on some waters.
• Northern pike: open all year; S-6/C-2, one over 86 cm.
• Brook trout: check individual water — many lakes are protected fisheries.

Zone check: FMZ 7 confirmed from this water's coordinates against the official Ontario zone boundaries (reviewed 2026-08-12).

Summary only — always confirm current seasons and limits on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 7 page before your trip.

Seasonal availability

Open-season windows for the species found at Hornepayne – Oba Lake, taken from the FMZ 7 regulation summary. Green months are within a published open season — they are not a prediction of how well fish will bite.

No FMZ 7 season line published in our summary for: Perch. Check the official page before keeping these species.

Summary only, and seasons change annually. Confirm dates on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 7 page before your trip.

Fishing tips

• Bring backup tackle — you're rarely close to a store.
• Fly-in operators know slot rules cold; ask before packing fish out.
• Brook trout here are wild and spooky. Use light gear and natural presentations. The streams feeding the lake hold the best brookies — fish them with a fly rod for an unforgettable experience.
• Access: Roadside access with small gravel pulloff. Remote access — high clearance vehicle recommended.

Gear setup

Setup:

Light spinning or fly rod for brook trout; medium for pike

Rod:

5'6" ultralight spinning; 4-weight fly rod

Reel:

Size 1000 ultralight spinning

Line:

4 lb fluorocarbon

Best bait:

Worms, Crickets, Small minnows

Best lures:

Small spinner (Mepps #1), Tiny spoon (gold), Fly patterns (Royal Coachman, Woolly Bugger), Small jig