Bushtrail Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Bushtrail Lake lies in Nipissing District, in Ontario. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. This is a pocket water of some 2 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Nipissing District. 24 km away sits Mattawa, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 152 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Bushtrail Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Nipissing District list smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Bushtrail Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 18°C in July and bottoms out near -13°C in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Expect Bushtrail Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Burntshanty Lake sits 1.3 km off and takes the overflow. Treat Bushtrail Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.