Ratrap Lake Fishing near Mattawa, Ontario

• Overview

  Within Nipissing District, Ontario, you have Ratrap Lake. It sits at 375 metres above sea level. Roughly 77 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. On our Nipissing District list it sits near the top for size. Mattawa sits 35 km from the bank. Further out sit Powassan (39 km) and Callander (46 km). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Ratrap Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Nipissing District records list smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Ratrap Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -13°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Ratrap Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Overnight stays are possible about 240 m out, where camping is mapped. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Dahinda Lake at 0.9 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Ratrap Lake is worth confirming on the day.