Fishing at Duhaime Lake, Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Nipissing District, Ontario, is where Duhaime Lake sits. The bank gives way to mixed forest. With some 11 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 1.8 km on foot. Start from Mattawa, 29 km down the road. Further out sit Powassan (67 km) and Callander (69 km). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Duhaime Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Nipissing District records list smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Take Duhaime Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -13°C in January. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Duhaime Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Maki Lake is 1.8 km off. Confirm access to Duhaime Lake locally before you travel.