Staley Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Staley Lake is listed under York, Ontario. Elevation runs to 322 metres. This is a pocket water of some 3 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our York list. Ballantrae is the closest place, 3.9 km off. Markham sits 19 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Staley Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for York list yellow perch, pumpkinseed, rock bass, white sucker and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Staley Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 20°C on average, January about -8°C. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Staley Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A marina 1.4 km from here covers launching and moorings. The nearest car park we can see is 660 m out, so expect a walk with your gear. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Lazy Lake, 0.8 km out. Rules at Staley Lake are worth checking on the day.