Fishing at Frankish Lake, Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Nipissing District, Ontario, this is Frankish Lake. It sits in mixed forest country. At 6 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Nipissing District list holds plenty of bigger water. 34 km away sits Témiscaming, the nearest town. After that come Notre-Dame-du-Lac at 36 km and Ville-Marie at 53 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Frankish Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch and pumpkinseed. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Take Frankish Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -15°C to 18°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It holds true on Frankish Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Muskeg Lake, 1.7 km out. Rules at Frankish Lake are worth checking on the day.