Fishing at Maple Lake, Parry Sound District, Ontario

• Overview

  You will find Maple Lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario. It lies 226 metres above sea level. At 2.02 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. The shoreline runs about 10 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Parry Sound District list it sits near the top for size. Nearest place of any size is Parry Sound, 18 km away. After that come Huntsville at 46 km and Bracebridge at 53 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Maple Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Parry Sound District list smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Take Maple Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 19°C and January near -10°C on the long-run figures. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Maple Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Duck Lake, 1.5 km away. Ask locally about Maple Lake if anything is unclear.