Eels Lake near Bancroft: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Peterborough County end of Ontario holds Eels Lake. Height above sea level is 350 metres. This is sizeable water at about 9.66 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The shoreline runs to about 81 km, far more than one trip can cover. It ranks high for size among our Peterborough County listings. Bancroft sits 29 km from the bank. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Eels Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Peterborough County include rock bass, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, muskellunge and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Eels Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 19°C on average, January about -10°C. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On Eels Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Alder Lake at 3 km is the sensible second choice. Signs at Eels Lake carry more weight than any list.