Fishing at Hilliard Lake, Algoma, Ontario

• Overview

  Algoma, Ontario, is where Hilliard Lake sits. It stands 354 metres above sea level. It measures about 13 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 1.8 km keeps the choices simple. Most waters listed here for Algoma are larger. Supplies mean a trip to Hornepayne, 64 km off. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 350 km distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Hilliard Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Algoma cover walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter, yellow perch and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Hilliard Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 16°C and January at -18°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Hilliard Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Sharpe Lake sits 3.1 km off and takes the overflow. Rules at Hilliard Lake are worth checking on the day.