Goodoar Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Goodoar Lake lies within the bounds of Haliburton County, Ontario. It stands 294 metres above sea level. At roughly 3 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Haliburton County list. Fenelon Falls lies 27 km from the water. Bobcaygeon follows at 30 km, then Haliburton Village at 36 km. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Goodoar Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Haliburton County records list smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, rock bass, yellow perch and lake trout among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Goodoar Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -10°C in January to roughly 19°C in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near early December in autumn. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to Goodoar Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Lower Goodoar Lake at 0.3 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Goodoar Lake should be assumed from this page alone.