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

• Overview

  The Nipissing District entry here is Rainbow Lake, in Ontario. What surrounds it is lake country bush. It runs to roughly 40 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge covers about 5.5 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. It is high ground by Ontario standards. Head to Huntsville, 46 km away, for anything you forgot. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Nipissing District records list smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Take Rainbow Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -13°C in January to roughly 18°C in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Rainbow Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A campsite is mapped about 170 m away, which makes an early start easier. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Loft Lake is 1.7 km distant. Confirm access to Rainbow Lake locally before you travel.