Stranger Lake in Nipissing District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ontario holds Stranger Lake, in Nipissing District. The bank is 440 metres above sea level. At 2 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Nipissing District. Nearest town is South River, 24 km off. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 162 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Stranger Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Nipissing District include smallmouth bass, cisco, yellow perch and pumpkinseed. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Stranger Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -13°C in January and 18°C in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Stranger Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A campsite lies 910 m away for anyone staying over. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Craig Lake at 1.4 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Stranger Lake.