Plum Lake in Nipissing District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Plum Lake sits in Nipissing District, out in Ontario. It sits at 338 metres above sea level. It measures about 46 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge covers about 6.2 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. For a base, Capreol sits 48 km out. Markstay-Warren follows at 51 km, then Valley East at 57 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Plum Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch and pumpkinseed. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Plum Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 18°C and January near -15°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Plum Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, High Lake is 3.7 km off. Nothing here settles the position at Plum Lake for certain.