Fishing Mew Lake in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Mew Lake lies within the bounds of Nipissing District, Ontario. This is mixed forest country. The water covers some 14 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 2.2 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. For supplies, United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde is 43 km out. It is 159 km to Barrie, the nearest city. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Mew Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Mew Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -12°C in January up to 18°C in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Mew Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows parking within 190 m. A campsite is mapped about 180 m away, which makes an early start easier. Facilities run to toilets 170 m from the water. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Pewee Lake at 0.8 km is the sensible second choice. Signs at Mew Lake carry more weight than any list.