Fishing Thompson Lake in York, Ontario

• Overview

  Thompson Lake is a York water, Ontario side. The surroundings are rolling bush. It covers about 5 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. 8.5 km away sits King, the nearest town. Further out sit Bolton (8.5 km) and Tottenham (12 km). What else is close: Bell's Lake some 2.6 km off, Hall Lake out at 5.7 km, Kelly Lake some 6.2 km off, Hackett Lake out at 8.4 km and Gibson Lake some 11 km off. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Thompson Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Open biodiversity records for York list yellow perch, pumpkinseed, rock bass and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Treat Thompson Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 20°C for July and -8°C for January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Thompson Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Bell's Lake is 2.6 km off. Check the position on Thompson Lake before loading the car.