Maxey Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Cochrane District in Ontario is where Maxey Lake sits. Around the bank it is boreal forest. This is sizeable water at about 1.13 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The shoreline runs about 6.2 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Cochrane District. Longlac sits 212 km from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 408 km away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Maxey Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Cochrane District cover northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, Iowa darter and logperch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Maxey Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in July and bottom out at -22°C in January. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. From about early May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to Maxey Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Venton Lake sits 10 km off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Maxey Lake as something to verify.