Fishing Shirley Lake in Renfrew County, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Shirley Lake belongs to Renfrew County. Height above sea level is 179 metres. It is low-lying compared with other Ontario water we list. Nearest town is Deep River, 30 km off. Gatineau sits 186 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. If this one is busy: Smith Lake sits 1.6 km out, Menet Lake the better part of 1.8 km, Demarco Lake sits 2.2 km out, Perch Lake the better part of 2.5 km and Dunns Lake sits 2.6 km out. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Shirley Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Renfrew County include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and rock bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Shirley Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 19°C in July and bottoms out near -13°C in January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Shirley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Smith Lake at 1.6 km is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Shirley Lake if anything is unclear.