Fishing Bob's Lake in Hastings County, Ontario

• Overview

  Bob's Lake is one of the Hastings County waters in Ontario. The surface lies 340 metres up. At roughly 6 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Hastings County. The nearest town is Bancroft, 21 km away. Marmora follows at 48 km, then Haliburton Village at 49 km. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Bob's Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Hastings County cover rock bass, smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Bob's Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 19°C; the cold one sits at -10°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Bob's Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Rock Lake is 0.8 km off. Rules at Bob's Lake are worth checking on the day.