Fish Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Fish Lake sits within Nipissing District in Ontario. The bank gives way to pine and birch. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. On size it sits at the modest end of our Nipissing District list. Bancroft is the closest place, 38 km off. Nepean sits 170 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Fish Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Nipissing District: smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Fish Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 18°C at the top of summer and -12°C at the bottom of winter. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Fish Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Helmer Lake is 1.9 km off. The position on Fish Lake is worth confirming on the day.