Bear Lake Fishing Guide, Renfrew County, Ontario

• Overview

  Bear Lake stands in Renfrew County, Ontario. Land around it is pine and birch. Surface area runs to about 6 hectares — small enough to read in one session. It is low-lying compared with other Ontario water we list. The nearest place of any size is Petawawa, 42 km away. The nearest city of size is Gatineau, 152 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Renfrew County include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and rock bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Bear Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 19°C and January near -13°C on the long-run figures. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Bear Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Minkspaw Lake, 2.9 km out. Signs at Bear Lake carry more weight than any list.