Cat Lake in Algoma: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Algoma in Ontario is where Cat Lake sits. Everything around it is northern bush. At about 36 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. A shoreline of some 3.9 km keeps the choices simple. Nearest town is Hornepayne, 16 km off. Manitouwadge is 76 km and Hearst 106 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Cat Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Algoma list walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter, yellow perch and white sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Cat Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -18°C in January and 16°C in July. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Cat Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Blue Lake is 1.1 km off. Nothing here settles the position at Cat Lake for certain.