Miriam Lake Fishing in Algoma, Ontario

• Overview

  You will find Miriam Lake in Algoma, Ontario. The surroundings are taiga. The water covers around 1.12 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. At about 9.9 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Size puts it in the front rank of our Algoma list. The nearest place of any size is Hornepayne, 31 km away. For a city, Thunder Bay is 310 km off. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Miriam Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Algoma include walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Miriam Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -18°C and July at about 16°C, the water has a wide range to work through. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. At Miriam Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Gum Lake, 4.6 km away. Check the position at Miriam Lake before loading the car.