Valiant Lake in Renfrew County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Renfrew County, Valiant Lake is an Ontario water. What surrounds it is pine and birch. Roughly 38 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 3.6 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Renfrew County. The closest town, Mattawa, is 48 km distant. After that come Deep River at 48 km and Chalk River at 55 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Valiant Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Renfrew County include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and rock bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The shape of Valiant Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 18°C and January near -13°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish Valiant Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Mousseau Lake, 1.7 km away. Nothing on Valiant Lake should be assumed from this page alone.