Emily Lake in Kawartha Lakes: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Emily Lake sits in Kawartha Lakes, out in Ontario. It sits in rolling bush. Surface area runs to roughly 1.17 sq km, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The margin runs to about 8.2 km in total. Supplies mean a trip to Bobcaygeon, 11 km off. Omemee is 16 km and Lindsay 16 km. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Emily Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Kawartha Lakes include muskellunge, rock bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and bluegill. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Emily Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 20°C and January reads -9°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan around that when you fish Emily Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Pigeon Lake at 7 km is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Emily Lake.