Behan Lake in Nipissing District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Behan Lake is a Nipissing District water, in Ontario. It stands 413 metres above sea level. Roughly 59 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. A shoreline of some 4.6 km keeps the choices simple. Some 43 km away sits Powassan, the nearest settlement. For a city, Greater Sudbury is 179 km off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Behan Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Nipissing District cover smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. At Behan Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -13°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. That is the shape of the year on Behan Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Casque Lake, 1.2 km away. For Behan Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.