Bell's Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Bell's Lake is one of the York waters in Ontario. The surface lies 279 metres up. At 3 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in York. King lies 6.3 km from the water. The nearest city of size is Vaughan, an 18 km drive. Other water within reach: Thompson Lake at 2.6 km, Kelly Lake 3.8 km, Hackett Lake at 5.9 km, Hall Lake 8.2 km and Mary Lake at 9.4 km. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Bell's Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for York cover yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Bell's Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 20°C in July and bottoms out near -8°C in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about mid December in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Bell's Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Thompson Lake, 2.6 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at Bell's Lake for certain.