Ottertail Lake Fishing near Thessalon, Ontario

• Overview

  Ottertail Lake falls in Algoma, part of Ontario. The water sits 190 metres up. About 4.33 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. Around 14 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. It ranks high for size among our Algoma listings. The nearest place of any size is Thessalon, 21 km away. For a city, Greater Sudbury is 213 km off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Ottertail Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Algoma include walleye, northern pike and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Take Ottertail Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -11°C in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Ottertail Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Overnight stays are possible about 920 m out, where camping is mapped. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Round Lake sits 5.1 km off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Ottertail Lake in what we hold.