Patterford Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Patterford Lake lies in Parry Sound District, Ontario. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. It runs to roughly 13 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Bank access stretches around 3.6 km in total. For a base, South River sits 19 km out. Beyond it, Powassan at 32 km and Callander at 48 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Patterford Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish documented in Parry Sound District include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Patterford Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 18°C and January near -11°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Anyone fishing Patterford Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Little Partridge Lake, 1.3 km away, makes the obvious fallback. For Patterford Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.