Shirley Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Nipissing District entry here is Shirley Lake, in Ontario. It stands 400 metres above sea level. At some 5.53 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The perimeter is close to 27 km, and wind can be flat in one arm and rough in the next. It ranks high for size among our Nipissing District listings. For a city, Barrie is 188 km off. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Shirley Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Nipissing District, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. At Shirley Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 18°C and January at -13°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Climate figures give an open season running late April to late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Shirley Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Overnight stays are possible 630 m away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Fog Lake at 1.7 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Shirley Lake should be assumed from this page alone.