Fishing at Spectacle Lakes, Timiskaming District, Ontario

• Overview

  Timiskaming District in Ontario is where Spectacle Lakes sits. Elevation runs to 284 metres. Around 59 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. At about 5.4 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Kirkland Lake sits 24 km from the bank. Englehart follows at 38 km, then Rouyn-Noranda at 52 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Spectacle Lakes

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. County-wide records name brook trout, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The near bank of Spectacle Lakes is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -17°C to 17°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on Spectacle Lakes rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Moosehead Lake, 1.1 km away. Check the current arrangement for Spectacle Lakes.