Taylor Lake Fishing near Hornepayne, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Taylor Lake in the Algoma part of Ontario. This is taiga ground. Roughly 20 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 2.3 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. For a base, Hornepayne sits 33 km out. Hearst follows at 81 km, then Manitouwadge at 89 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Taylor Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. 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. Reported across Algoma: walleye, northern pike and Iowa darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Taylor Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in July and bottom out at -19°C in January. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Taylor Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. 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. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Shalla Lake at 1.4 km is the nearest alternative. For Taylor Lake in particular, ask before you travel.