Bott's Lake Fishing near Bancroft, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Peterborough County, Ontario, sits Bott's Lake. It lies 331 metres above sea level. About 6 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Peterborough County list. For supplies, Bancroft is 31 km out. For a city, Oshawa is 120 km off. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Bott's Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish documented in Peterborough County include rock bass, pumpkinseed and smallmouth bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Bott's Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 19°C and January at -10°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Bott's Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Little Tallan Lake, 2 km away. The position on Bott's Lake is worth confirming on the day.