Turtle Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Ontario holds Turtle Lake, in Timiskaming District. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. At some 1.60 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs about 18 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Timiskaming District list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Kirkland Lake, is 44 km distant. It is 177 km to Greater Sudbury, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Turtle Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Timiskaming District names brook trout, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Turtle Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 17°C for July and -17°C for January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan around that when you fish Turtle Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Bastian Lake sits 1.8 km off and takes the overflow. Rules at Turtle Lake are worth checking on the day.