Burgess Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Burgess Lake belongs to Oxford County, Ontario. It stands 289 metres above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 6 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Plattsville lies 10 km from the water. After that come Ayr at 11 km and New Dundee at 14 km. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Burgess Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Oxford County include common carp, johnny darter, white sucker and rock bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Burgess Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 20°C in July and bottom out at -7°C in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. The water is typically free of ice between early April and mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Expect Burgess Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The car has to stay 1 km away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Park Haven Lake sits 7.3 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Burgess Lake before loading the car.