Fishing at Elbow Lake, Parry Sound District, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Parry Sound District, Ontario, sits Elbow Lake. The surroundings are mixed forest. At about 11 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The whole outline is near 2.2 km, and most of it is walkable. It sits higher than most water we list in Ontario. The closest town, South River, is 29 km away. Barrie sits 155 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Elbow Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. 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 and yellow perch among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Elbow Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 18°C and January reads -12°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near late November in autumn. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish Elbow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Bee Lake sits 0.6 km off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Elbow Lake.