Widgeon Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Widgeon Lake is one of the Cochrane District waters in Ontario. Elevation runs to 165 metres. Surface area is around 22 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 2.9 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It lies lower than most water we list in Ontario. Hearst sits 50 km from here and is the nearest stop. Then Hornepayne, 97 km, and Kapuskasing, 140 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Widgeon Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Cochrane District records list northern pike, yellow perch and white sucker among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Fish Widgeon Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -19°C. The window is narrow, and fish feed hard while it lasts. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Widgeon Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Blue Goose Lake, 0.9 km out. Ask locally about Widgeon Lake if anything is unclear.