Fishing Harry Lake in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Harry Lake is a Nipissing District water, Ontario side. It sits at 438 metres above sea level. At 1.09 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. The shoreline runs about 5.4 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Nipissing District list. Further out sit Haliburton Village (42 km) and Huntsville (61 km). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Harry Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Harry Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 18°C and January reads -12°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on Harry Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Overnight stays are possible about 400 m out, where camping is mapped. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Rence Lake at 2.3 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Harry Lake before loading the car.