Chartrand Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Chartrand Lake in Algoma, Ontario. Beyond the shoreline you have taiga. Roughly 29 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 3.6 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Wawa lies 40 km from the water. It is 312 km to Greater Sudbury, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Chartrand Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Algoma cover walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter, yellow perch and white sucker. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Chartrand Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 16°C and January at -16°C. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Chartrand 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. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Upper Dingman Lake at 4.6 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Chartrand Lake are worth checking on the day.