Alexander Lake in Algoma: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Algoma, Ontario, sits Alexander Lake. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. It measures about 17 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.0 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. 17 km away sits Sault Ste. Marie, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 246 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Alexander Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Algoma include walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Alexander Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -12°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Alexander Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Gordon Lake is 1.9 km distant. Check the position on Alexander Lake before loading the car.