Fishing at Notsobig Lake, Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Notsobig Lake in Nipissing District, Ontario. What surrounds it is pine and birch. Surface area runs to about 9 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Huntsville is the closest place, 27 km off. The big place round here is Barrie, 125 km distant. Within a short drive: Bertie Lake lies 1.6 km on, Thumb Lake a touch under 1.8 km, McCann Lake lies 2.5 km on, Lumber Lake a touch under 2.5 km and Bright Lake lies 2.9 km on. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Notsobig Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Nipissing District, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Notsobig Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -12°C in January to roughly 18°C in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. That shapes the year on Notsobig Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Bertie Lake at 1.6 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Notsobig Lake is worth confirming on the day.