Shag Lake in Nipissing District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Shag Lake sits in Nipissing District, out in Ontario. The ground round it is rolling bush. Small at around 4 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Nipissing District. South River lies 38 km from the water. Powassan is 43 km and Callander 58 km. Near neighbours include: Hiah Lake about 1.2 km, Hag Lake (1.7 km), Loontail Lake about 1.9 km, Yellow Birch Lake (2.8 km) and Beaverpaw Lake about 3.2 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Shag Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Nipissing District, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Shag Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 18°C in July and bottoms out near -13°C in January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. The season on Shag Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. 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. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Hiah Lake, 1.2 km out. Check the current arrangement for Shag Lake.