Smith Lake near Deep River: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Smith Lake in the Renfrew County part of Ontario. The setting is lake country bush on every side. The water covers some 27 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 2.8 km in total. It lies lower than most water we list in Ontario. Nearest town is Deep River, 32 km off. Chalk River follows at 39 km, then Petawawa at 57 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Smith Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Renfrew County include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Smith Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -13°C to 19°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. From about late April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Smith Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Demarco Lake at 0.8 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Smith Lake carry more weight than any list.