Fishing Wren Lake in Nipissing District, Ontario

• Overview

  Ontario holds Wren Lake, in Nipissing District. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. About 8 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Nipissing District are larger. Nearest town is Mattawa, 47 km off. Further out sit Deep River (57 km) and Chalk River (60 km). Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Wren Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name smallmouth bass, cisco and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Wren Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 18°C in July and bottoms out near -13°C in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate figures give an open season running late April to late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan any trip to Wren Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Alco Lake, 1.2 km away. Check the position at Wren Lake before loading the car.