Bailey Lake Fishing in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Bailey Lake belongs to Nipissing District. The ground round it is rolling bush. The water covers some 12 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 1.8 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. The nearest place of any size is United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde, 48 km away. Barrie is the closest city, 176 km away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Bailey Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Nipissing District records list smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Bailey Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -13°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That shapes the year on Bailey Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Overnight stays are possible 1 km away. 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. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Segwun Lake at 0.8 km is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Bailey Lake.