Curly Lake Fishing near Mattawa, Ontario

• Overview

  Curly Lake is a Nipissing District water, Ontario side. Elevation runs to 292 metres. The water covers some 73 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline length is close to 5.5 km, and each section fishes a little differently. It ranks high for size among our Nipissing District listings. Nearest town is Mattawa, 30 km off. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 163 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Curly Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Curly Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 18°C and January about -13°C. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Curly Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Boulter Lake sits 2.9 km off and takes the overflow. Treat Curly Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.