Fishing Scud Lake in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Nipissing District, Ontario, sits Scud Lake. Height above sea level is 349 metres. The water covers some 14 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 1.8 km in total. The nearest town is Mattawa, 31 km away. Powassan is 44 km and Callander 49 km. Neighbouring water: Waterclear Lake within 0.8 km, Nebanawbaig Lake (2.1 km), Mink Lake within 2.3 km, Ascalon Lake (2.7 km) and Whitebirch Lake within 3 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Scud Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. 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. County-wide records name smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Read Scud Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 18°C, with January the cold end at about -13°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. At Scud Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A campsite is mapped about 810 m away, which makes an early start easier. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Waterclear Lake, 0.8 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat Scud Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.