Brett Lake Fishing in Hastings County, Ontario

• Overview

  Brett Lake is one of the Hastings County listings for Ontario. It sits in lake country bush country. With some 13 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Roughly 2.2 km of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. For a base, Bancroft sits 32 km out. It is 115 km to Kingston, the nearest city. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Brett Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Hastings County records list rock bass, smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Anyone new to Brett Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 19°C in July and bottom out at -10°C in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Brett Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Paddy's Lake at 2.5 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Brett Lake are worth checking on the day.