Dafoe Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Dafoe Lake falls in Hastings County, part of Ontario. The surroundings are rolling bush. It measures about 41 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The full circuit measures close to 3.9 km on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Hastings County list. Nearest town is Bancroft, 35 km off. It is 110 km to Kingston, the nearest city. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Dafoe Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Hastings County list rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and bluegill. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Dafoe Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 18°C and January at -12°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The open-water window runs from around late April to about early December in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan around that when you fish Dafoe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Upper Partridge Lake is 3 km distant. For Dafoe Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.