Potter Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Potter Lake is set in Manitoulin District, Ontario. It stands 175 metres above sea level. With some 81 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. You are looking at roughly 5.1 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. It lies lower than most water we list in Ontario. Some 10 km away sits Little Current, the nearest settlement. Then Espanola, 24 km, and Lively, 68 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Potter Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Manitoulin District include rainbow smelt, lake whitefish, cisco and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Potter Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 19°C and January near -10°C on the long-run figures. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Potter Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Mud Lake, 2.1 km out. The position on Potter Lake is worth confirming on the day.