Holdsworth Lake Fishing near Wawa, Ontario

• Overview

  Within Algoma, Ontario, you have Holdsworth Lake. The setting is taiga. It runs to roughly 18 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. With about 3.0 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. The closest town, Wawa, is 14 km away. Then Chapleau, 96 km, and Hornepayne, 127 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Holdsworth Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Algoma, recorded fish include walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Holdsworth Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 16°C, while January sits near -15°C. The ice season is long here and the open one short. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. On average, late April 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. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Holdsworth Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Loonskin Lake sits 1.4 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Holdsworth Lake before loading the car.