Fishing Hobo Lake in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Hobo Lake sits in Nipissing District, out in Ontario. The surface lies 405 metres up. At about 68 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. At about 10 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Huntsville is the closest place, 31 km off. Barrie is the closest city, 131 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Hobo Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for Nipissing District names smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Hobo Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 18°C at the top of summer and -12°C at the bottom of winter. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Hobo Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Victory Lake is 0.7 km off. Confirm before you fish Hobo Lake.