Ray's Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Nipissing District, Ontario, you have Ray's Lake. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. At roughly 6 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Nipissing District standards. Head to United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde, 63 km away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Barrie, 180 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Ray's Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch and pumpkinseed. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Work Ray's Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 18°C; by January the average is down near -13°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Ray's Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Baldwin Lake, 0.9 km away, makes the obvious fallback. For Ray's Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.