South Vanity Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  South Vanity Lake sits within Nipissing District in Ontario. The country here is mixed forest. At 6 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 Nipissing District list. Nearest town is South River, 40 km off. Barrie is the closest city, 162 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on South Vanity Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Nipissing District, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of South Vanity Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 18°C at the top of summer and -13°C at the bottom of winter. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on South Vanity Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. You can camp 1.2 km off, which suits an early start. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Longbow Lake, 0.8 km away. For South Vanity Lake in particular, ask before you travel.