Bilsky Lake Fishing Guide, Timiskaming District, Ontario

• Overview

  The Timiskaming District end of Ontario holds Bilsky Lake. It sits at 367 metres above sea level. Small at around 8 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Timiskaming District are larger. Englehart at 66 km is the nearest place to stop. Temiskaming Shores is 75 km and Kirkland Lake 76 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Bilsky Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Timiskaming District include brook trout, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Bilsky Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -16°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Bilsky Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Jacobs Lake at 0.9 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Bilsky Lake before loading the car.