Second Government Lake near Hornepayne: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Second Government Lake sits within Algoma in Ontario. The land about it is spruce and muskeg. About 2.54 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. Size puts it in the front rank of our Algoma list. Nearest town is Hornepayne, 9 km off. After that come Manitouwadge at 69 km and Hearst at 104 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Second Government Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Algoma names walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter, yellow perch and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Take Second Government Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 16°C and January near -18°C. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Second Government Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. There is a jetty 1.2 km off, worth knowing on a busy day. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. First Government Lake at 2 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Second Government Lake should be assumed from this page alone.