Skunk Lake in Lanark County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Skunk Lake sits in Lanark County, out in Ontario. The water sits 171 metres up. At 2 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Lanark County list. Head to Mississippi Mills, 18 km away, for anything you forgot. Almonte follows at 19 km, then Arnprior at 24 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Skunk Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Lanark County cover pumpkinseed, rock bass and smallmouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Skunk Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 20°C and January near -11°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near early December in autumn. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It sets the rhythm of the year at Skunk Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Cranberry Lake, 1.5 km away. None of that is settled for Skunk Lake in what we hold.