Burke Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Burke Lake lies within the bounds of Nipissing District, Ontario. It lies 322 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 10 hectares — small enough to read in one session. The whole outline is near 2.5 km, and most of it is walkable. The nearest place of any size is Témiscaming, 18 km away. Then Notre-Dame-du-Lac, 22 km, and North Bay, 45 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Burke Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch and pumpkinseed. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Treat Burke Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -14°C in January up to 18°C in July. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Burke Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Reynolds Lake sits 2.1 km off and takes the overflow. For Burke Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.