Fishing Council Lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Council Lake falls inside Parry Sound District. The surface lies 229 metres up. It runs to roughly 20 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Ground here is low by Ontario standards. 51 km away sits South River, the nearest town. Then Parry Sound, 55 km, and Powassan, 57 km. Others within reach: Otter Lake just 1 km, Rat Lake 1.6 km away, Muskrat Lake just 2 km, Partridge Lake 2.8 km away and Clear Lake just 4.1 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Council Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Parry Sound District records list smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, northern pike and rock bass among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Council Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 19°C in July and bottom out at -11°C in January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. At Council Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Otter Lake at 1 km is the sensible second choice. Where Council Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.