Minnow Lake Fishing near Renfrew, Ontario

• Overview

  Minnow Lake stands in Renfrew County, Ontario. The setting is rolling bush. It covers about 2 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Renfrew County list holds plenty of bigger water. The nearest town is Renfrew, 30 km away. Then Arnprior, 42 km, and Eganville, 44 km. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Minnow Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Renfrew County records list smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and rock bass among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Minnow Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 19°C; the cold one sits at -12°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Minnow Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Battery Lake at 2.6 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Minnow Lake is worth confirming on the day.