Fishing at Robinson Lake, Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Nipissing District, Ontario, sits Robinson Lake. The setting is lake country bush. At 10 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Ontario listings. United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde lies 34 km from the water. The big place round here is Barrie, 166 km distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Robinson Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Nipissing District: smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The near bank of Robinson Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -12°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It holds true on Robinson Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. McCoy Lake sits 2 km off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Robinson Lake if anything is unclear.