West Andre Lake in Algoma: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  West Andre Lake is one of the Algoma listings for Ontario. Beyond the shoreline you have boreal forest. Surface area is around 89 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge covers about 7.0 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. It ranks high for size among our Algoma listings. Wawa sits 18 km from here and is the nearest stop. Chapleau follows at 100 km, then Hornepayne at 120 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on West Andre Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Algoma records list walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter, yellow perch and white sucker among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish West Andre Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 16°C in July and bottoms out near -15°C in January. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on West Andre Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. 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. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Cliff Lake is 3.6 km off. What applies at West Andre Lake may have changed since it was mapped.