Fishing at van Nostrand Lake, York, Ontario

• Overview

  Van Nostrand Lake lies in York, in Ontario. It stands 301 metres above sea level. The water measures roughly 2 hectares, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by York standards. Whitchurch-Stouffville is the closest place, 5.4 km off. Aurora is 6.6 km and Ballantrae 7.8 km. Within a short run: Preston Lake just 1.4 km, Simeon Lake lies 4 km on, Haynes Lake just 4.7 km, St. George Lake lies 5.7 km on and Wilcox Lake just 6.9 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on van Nostrand Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name yellow perch, pumpkinseed, rock bass, white sucker and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On van Nostrand Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 20°C and January at -8°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Van Nostrand Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The car has to stay 880 m away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Preston Lake is 1.4 km distant. Nothing on van Nostrand Lake should be assumed from this page alone.