Van Winkle Lake in Manitoulin District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Manitoulin District, Ontario, is where Van Winkle Lake sits. It sits at 227 metres above sea level. The water covers some 86 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The perimeter runs near 8.4 km, so plan the walk before you start. Ground here is low by Ontario standards. Some 23 km away sits Espanola, the nearest settlement. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 52 km away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Van Winkle Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Manitoulin District: rainbow smelt, lake whitefish, cisco, yellow perch and white sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Van Winkle Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -11°C in January to roughly 19°C in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan any trip to Van Winkle Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Cat Lake at 1.3 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Van Winkle Lake before loading the car.