Gem Lake Fishing in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Gem Lake sits in Nipissing District, out in Ontario. It sits at 446 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 5 hectares — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Nipissing District list. The closest town, United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde, is 31 km distant. Beyond it, Haliburton Village at 49 km and Bancroft at 62 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Gem Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Nipissing District list smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Gem Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 18°C and January about -12°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about late November in an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. That is the shape of the year on Gem Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. There is a campsite 1 km from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Sandy Lake is 0.9 km distant. Signs at Gem Lake carry more weight than any list.