Pan Lake Fishing Guide, Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Pan Lake is one of the Nipissing District waters in Ontario. The surface lies 382 metres up. Surface area is around 14 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 2.1 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The nearest place of any size is Mattawa, 34 km away. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 201 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Pan Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Nipissing District records list smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Pan Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -13°C in January and 18°C in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan any trip to Pan Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A carry of 940 m from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. You can camp about 270 m away, going by the mapping. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Rana Lake, 0.5 km away, makes the obvious fallback. For Pan Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.