Water Level

March 15, 2008

The lake is still frozen, and the published lake water level is 195.13 cm. (+15.7in) and the French level is 181.90 cm. (+21.3in). The water level when the ice melts is important to the spring level. There are 23 dams that allow the spring run off to enter the lake. There are only two dams to let water out of the lake. Depending how much snow melt there is in those areas will determine how much the lake will rise. When Lake Nipissing is lowered by .39 inches in 24 hours, the French River will rise by 18 ¾ inches. The point is that it is not an easy task to lower the lake level. The mandate for controlling these dams varies from Ontario power Generation to the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Our Walleye and Pike season opens on May 17 this year. The water temperature determines how well the fishing will be when we open. The lake water temperature is dependant on the ice melt and the influence of the water coming into the lake from those 23 dams.
My experience tells me that the walleye fishing may be poor when we open due to the cold water. Pike on the other hand should be good, but one must use live bait under a bobber.
Speaking of Northern Pike, the size limits are as follows, not more then two greater then 61cm (24 in), of which not more then 1 is greater than 86cm.(33.9 in). This is a NEW regulation and different from last year. This seems confusing to me but, that’s what the Ministry of Natural Resources has published.