Fishing Pukina Lake in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Nipissing District, Ontario, is where Pukina Lake sits. The land about it is lake country bush. Small at around 10 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The edge runs 1.5 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Start from Mattawa, 45 km down the road. Powassan lies 72 km off, Deep River another 72 km. Also worth knowing: Wendigoes Lake 1.5 km, Folly Lake at 1.6 km, Lister Lake 3.1 km, Osseo Lake at 3.7 km and Bates Lake 3.9 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Pukina Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Anyone new to Pukina Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -13°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Climate figures give an open season running late April to late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Pukina Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Wendigoes Lake is 1.5 km distant. For Pukina Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.