Little Leech Lake Fishing near Espanola, Ontario

• Overview

  The Manitoulin District entry here is Little Leech Lake, in Ontario. The water sits 219 metres up. At roughly 10 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. With about 1.7 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Our Manitoulin District list holds plenty of bigger water. Espanola sits 19 km from the bank. Little Current is 34 km away, with Lively at 45 km. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Little Leech Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name rainbow smelt, lake whitefish, cisco, yellow perch and white sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work Little Leech Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 19°C; by January the average is down near -11°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan around that when you fish Little Leech Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Casson Lake at 1.4 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Little Leech Lake is worth confirming on the day.