Fishing Gun Lake in Renfrew County, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Gun Lake belongs to Renfrew County. It lies 350 metres above sea level. With some 30 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With about 3.5 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. The nearest town is Eganville, 41 km away. The nearest city of size is Nepean, 147 km away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Gun Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Renfrew County cover smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and rock bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Gun Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 18°C and January at -13°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about early December in an average year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That shapes the year on Gun Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Franks Lake at 1.2 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Gun Lake is worth confirming on the day.