Fishing at Upper Raven Lake, Parry Sound District, Ontario

• Overview

  Upper Raven Lake is a Parry Sound District water, in Ontario. Elevation runs to 401 metres. It measures about 23 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.8 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. South River at 23 km is the nearest place to stop. Barrie sits 150 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Upper Raven Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Parry Sound District include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, northern pike and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Upper Raven Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -12°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Upper Raven Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Lower Raven Lake, 1.3 km out. Check the position at Upper Raven Lake before loading the car.