Blue Lake in Peterborough County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Blue Lake lies in Peterborough County, Ontario. Around the bank it is pine and birch. About 10 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. About 1.8 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Most waters listed here for Peterborough County are larger. Nearest place of any size is Marmora, 24 km away. Norwood follows at 29 km, then Madoc at 37 km. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Blue Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Peterborough County include rock bass, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, muskellunge and bluegill. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Blue Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -10°C in January up to 19°C in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan any trip to Blue Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Sams Lake is 1.1 km off. Check the current arrangement for Blue Lake.