Fishing Upper Chesterfield Lake in Timiskaming District, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Upper Chesterfield Lake in Timiskaming District, Ontario. It lies 343 metres above sea level. It measures about 40 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The margin runs to about 6.0 km in total. 35 km away sits Timmins, the nearest town. Iroquois Falls follows at 88 km, then Cochrane at 105 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Upper Chesterfield Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Timiskaming District, recorded fish include brook trout, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The near bank of Upper Chesterfield Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -17°C in January up to 17°C in July. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Upper Chesterfield Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Lower Chesterfield Lake sits 2.6 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Upper Chesterfield Lake for certain.