Pilons Lake near Mississippi Mills: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Lanark County, Ontario, is where Pilons Lake sits. The water sits 279 metres up. It runs to roughly 11 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 3.6 km, small enough to learn in a day. Supplies mean a trip to Mississippi Mills, 32 km off. It is 71 km to Nepean, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Pilons Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Lanark County, recorded fish include pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Pilons Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 19°C, the coldest about -11°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Pilons Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Geordies Lake, 2.1 km away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for Pilons Lake in what we hold.