Fishing at Elkhorn Lake, Timiskaming District, Ontario

• Overview

  Elkhorn Lake sits in Timiskaming District, out in Ontario. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. It measures some 3.72 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. At about 23 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Few waters listed in Timiskaming District are bigger. Nearest place of any size is Englehart, 78 km away. For a city, Greater Sudbury is 123 km off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Elkhorn Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Timiskaming District records list brook trout, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Elkhorn Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 17°C in July and bottom out at -16°C in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Expect Elkhorn Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Crawford Lake, 1.7 km out. Rules at Elkhorn Lake are worth checking on the day.