Reid Lake in Lanark County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Reid Lake lies in Lanark County, Ontario. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. This is a pocket water of some 9 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It lies lower than most water we list in Ontario. Mississippi Mills lies 19 km from the water. The nearest city of size is Nepean, 58 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Reid Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Lanark County cover pumpkinseed, rock bass and smallmouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Reid Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 20°C and January reads -11°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near early December in autumn. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Reid Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lake on the Mount sits 1.5 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Reid Lake before loading the car.