Richmond Lake in Parry Sound District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Parry Sound District in Ontario is where Richmond Lake sits. The bank gives way to pine and birch. At 3 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Parry Sound District standards. Parry Sound at 19 km is the nearest place to stop. Then Penetanguishene, 76 km, and Midland, 80 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Richmond Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Parry Sound District include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. At Richmond Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -9°C to 19°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Richmond Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Raby Lake, 1.3 km out. Confirm before you fish Richmond Lake.