Wiley Lake Fishing Guide, Algoma, Ontario

• Overview

  Wiley Lake is an Algoma water, in Ontario. Height above sea level is 421 metres. At about 18 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. There is roughly 2.9 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The nearest place of any size is Sault Ste. Marie, 62 km away. For a city, Greater Sudbury is 275 km off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Wiley Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. Species logged across Algoma include walleye, northern pike and Iowa darter. The county list is broader than any single water. Wiley Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 17°C; the cold one sits at -12°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Wiley Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Mine Lake, 2.8 km out. For Wiley Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.