Fishing at Turtle Lake, Renfrew County, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Turtle Lake in Renfrew County, Ontario. What surrounds it is rolling bush. It covers about 2 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Renfrew County list. Nearest town is Renfrew, 41 km off. The big place round here is Nepean, 98 km distant. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Turtle Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Renfrew County include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and rock bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Turtle Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 19°C on average, January about -12°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Time your trip to Turtle Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Little Green Lake sits 0.7 km off and takes the overflow. Signs at Turtle Lake carry more weight than any list.