Marten Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Marten Lake lies in Algoma, in Ontario. Elevation runs to 410 metres. It measures about 27 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 3.6 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Supplies mean a trip to Elliot Lake, 74 km off. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 168 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Marten Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Algoma list walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Marten Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 17°C, while January sits near -14°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Marten Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Brown Lake, 3.6 km out. For Marten Lake in particular, ask before you travel.