Fishing Simmes Lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario

• Overview

  You will find Simmes Lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario. Elevation runs to 193 metres. It runs to roughly 89 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The margin runs to about 7.0 km in total. On our Parry Sound District list it sits near the top for size. Parry Sound sits 11 km from here and is the nearest stop. Huntsville lies 72 km off, Penetanguishene another 73 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Simmes Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Parry Sound District cover smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, northern pike and rock bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Simmes Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -9°C and July at about 19°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Simmes Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Spectacle Lake sits 2.5 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Simmes Lake before loading the car.