Greenleaf Lake Fishing in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Greenleaf Lake sits in Nipissing District, out in Ontario. Elevation runs to 256 metres. The water covers some 65 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 7.9 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. Start from Chalk River, 41 km down the road. For a city, Gatineau is 180 km off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Greenleaf Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Greenleaf Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 18°C and January about -13°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Greenleaf Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a campsite 370 m from the water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Lost Lake sits 2.1 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Greenleaf Lake before loading the car.