Fishing Shorrow Lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario

• Overview

  The Parry Sound District entry here is Shorrow Lake, in Ontario. Elevation runs to 252 metres. Roughly 19 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge covers about 8.4 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. South River sits 36 km from the bank. Greater Sudbury sits 111 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Shorrow Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Parry Sound District records list smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Shorrow Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -11°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Shorrow Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Theodolite Lake at 1.1 km is the nearest alternative. For Shorrow Lake in particular, ask before you travel.