Haliburton Lake Fishing in Haliburton County, Ontario

• Overview

  Ontario holds Haliburton Lake, in Haliburton County. Elevation runs to 357 metres. Surface area runs to some 10.48 sq km, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. Some 45 km of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. On our Haliburton County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest city of size is Barrie, 133 km away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Haliburton Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Haliburton County, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, rock bass and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Haliburton Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -12°C to 18°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Haliburton Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a jetty 540 m off, worth knowing on a busy day. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Percy Lake sits 3.9 km off and takes the overflow. For Haliburton Lake in particular, ask before you travel.