Paugh Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Paugh Lake falls in Renfrew County, part of Ontario. It sits in mixed forest country. The water covers around 7.46 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The shoreline runs about 21 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Renfrew County list it sits near the top for size. Petawawa is the closest town at 47 km. Gatineau sits 156 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Paugh Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Renfrew County include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Paugh Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 18°C, with January the cold end at about -13°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Paugh Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A jetty or pier is mapped about 980 m from here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Burns Lake, 2.3 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Paugh Lake.