Bircham Lake in Renfrew County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Renfrew County, Ontario, sits Bircham Lake. It sits in rolling bush. It measures about 23 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 3.2 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The closest town, Renfrew, is 26 km away. Eganville is 28 km and Cobden 36 km. Also on the doorstep: Patrickfalls Lake 0.6 km, 1.1 km away is Marly Lake, Round Lake 1.4 km, 1.4 km away is Mason Lake and Condon Lake 1.5 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Bircham Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Renfrew County include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and rock bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Bircham Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 18°C on average, January about -12°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Expect Bircham Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Patrickfalls Lake sits 0.6 km off and takes the overflow. For Bircham Lake in particular, ask before you travel.