Fishing Gowan Lake in Grey County, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Grey County, Ontario, sits Gowan Lake. It stands 230 metres above sea level. At about 24 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. A shoreline of some 2.3 km keeps the choices simple. It lies lower than most water we list in Ontario. The town to know is Wiarton, 12 km out. The nearest city of size is Barrie, 112 km away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Gowan Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Grey County include Chinook salmon, rainbow trout, brook trout and white sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Gowan Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 19°C in July and bottom out at -7°C in January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Gowan 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 built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Mary Lake at 0.9 km is the sensible second choice. Where Gowan Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.