Fishing Twinbear Lake in Renfrew County, Ontario

• Overview

  The Renfrew County end of Ontario holds Twinbear Lake. Land around it is rolling bush. It measures about 34 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 2.9 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. On our Renfrew County list it sits near the top for size. Eganville sits 38 km from the bank. Renfrew is 41 km and Cobden 50 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Twinbear Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Renfrew County cover smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and rock bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Twinbear Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -12°C in January to roughly 19°C in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That is the shape of the year on Twinbear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try McFadden Lake, 1.2 km away. Signs at Twinbear Lake carry more weight than any list.