Fishing at Burnt Lake, Parry Sound District, Ontario

• Overview

  Burnt Lake lies in Parry Sound District, in Ontario. It sits at 239 metres above sea level. It measures about 25 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 5.0 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Nearest place of any size is Parry Sound, 20 km away. The nearest city of size is Barrie, 93 km away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Burnt Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. 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. Parry Sound District records list smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and northern pike among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Burnt Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 19°C and January near -9°C. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Burnt Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Little Portage Lake, 1.1 km out. Nothing here settles the position at Burnt Lake for certain.