Valin Lake Fishing near North Bay, Ontario

• Overview

  Ontario holds Valin Lake, in Nipissing District. This is lake country bush country. The water covers around 2.08 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Around 7.8 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. On our Nipissing District list it sits near the top for size. Head to North Bay, 25 km away, for anything you forgot. Témiscaming lies 28 km off, Notre-Dame-du-Lac another 33 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Valin Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. County-wide records name smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Valin Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -14°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Valin Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Glen Lake at 3.1 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Valin Lake should be assumed from this page alone.