Fishing Collins Lake in Timiskaming District, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Timiskaming District, Ontario, sits Collins Lake. What surrounds it is lake country bush. It measures about 12 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.1 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The nearest place of any size is Englehart, 73 km away. Greater Sudbury sits 112 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Collins Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. 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 and Iowa darter. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Read Collins Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 17°C and January near -16°C on the long-run figures. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Collins Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Kenneth Lake, 1.4 km away. Ask locally about Collins Lake if anything is unclear.