Iris Lake Fishing in Algoma, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Iris Lake in the Algoma part of Ontario. Elevation runs to 342 metres. Surface area is around 50 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 5.0 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Wawa sits 40 km from here and is the nearest stop. Hornepayne follows at 101 km, then Chapleau at 102 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Iris Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Algoma names walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Iris Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -16°C. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Iris Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Square Lake at 1.1 km is the sensible second choice. For Iris Lake in particular, ask before you travel.