John Lake Fishing Guide, Algoma, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Algoma, Ontario, sits John Lake. It sits in northern bush. It measures about 24 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. With about 3.9 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Nearest place of any size is Manitouwadge, 64 km away. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 295 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on John Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Algoma records list walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter, yellow perch and white sucker among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish John Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -18°C in January to roughly 16°C in July. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to John Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Ruthie Lake at 2.6 km is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish John Lake.