Island Lake Fishing in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Island Lake is one of the Nipissing District listings for Ontario. It stands 368 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 27 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Around 2.9 km of margin, front to back. The town to know is Chalk River, 49 km out. The nearest city of size is Gatineau, 167 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Nipissing District: smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Island Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 18°C; by January the average is down near -13°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around late April to about late November in an average year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Island Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Murphys Lake is 1.5 km off. Check the position on Island Lake before loading the car.