Nan Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Nan Lake is a Rainy River District water, in Ontario. Elevation runs to 386 metres. Roughly 55 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge covers about 5.3 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. The nearest place of any size is Atikokan, 39 km away. Beyond it, Ely at 63 km and Babbitt at 85 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Nan Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Rainy River District: northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and walleye. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Nan Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 18°C and January near -16°C. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Time your trip to Nan Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Camel Lake is 1.3 km off. Check the position on Nan Lake before loading the car.