Little Rock Lake in Nipissing District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Nipissing District in Ontario is where Little Rock Lake sits. The setting is rolling bush on every side. The water covers some 20 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 2.0 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde sits 44 km from the bank. For a city, Barrie is 165 km off. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Little Rock Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Little Rock Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 18°C and January at -13°C. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Little Rock Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a campsite 170 m from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Pond Lake is 0.9 km off. Signs at Little Rock Lake carry more weight than any list.