South Long Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Nipissing District end of Ontario holds South Long Lake. The bank is 319 metres above sea level. The water covers some 27 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 4.4 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. The closest town, Mattawa, is 20 km away. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 182 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on South Long Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Nipissing District, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and rock bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of South Long Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -13°C in January up to 18°C in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That shapes the year on South Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Dumond Lake, 1.6 km away. Signs at South Long Lake carry more weight than any list.