Joco Lake in Algoma: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Ontario, Joco Lake belongs to Algoma. Height above sea level is 361 metres. With some 32 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 3.4 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The nearest town is Sault Ste. Marie, 71 km away. Greater Sudbury sits 284 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Joco Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Algoma include walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Joco Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 17°C and January near -12°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Anyone fishing Joco Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, West Joco Lake is 1.2 km off. Check the position on Joco Lake before loading the car.