Fishing at Hornet Lake, Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Nipissing District, Ontario, this is Hornet Lake. It lies 298 metres above sea level. With some 22 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 4.4 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Ville-Marie is the closest town at 50 km. Greater Sudbury sits 107 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Hornet Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Hornet Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -15°C in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Expect Hornet Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is a campsite 370 m from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Gravel Pit Pond sits 0.9 km off and takes the overflow. For Hornet Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.