Youdell Lake near Kirkland Lake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Youdell Lake in the Cochrane District part of Ontario. It lies 330 metres above sea level. Small at around 2 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Cochrane District. For supplies, Kirkland Lake is 27 km out. Then Iroquois Falls, 58 km, and Englehart, 63 km. Nearby alternatives: Borgford Lake (0.2 km), Bougie Lake some 0.9 km off, Benoit Lake (1 km), Malloch Lake some 1.1 km off and Wagg Lake (1.6 km). The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Youdell Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Cochrane District, recorded fish include northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker and Iowa darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Youdell Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -18°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Youdell Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Borgford Lake is 0.2 km distant. Signs at Youdell Lake carry more weight than any list.