Hardwood Lake near Chalk River: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Hardwood Lake stands in Renfrew County, Ontario. What surrounds it is mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 10 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Shoreline comes to about 1.6 km, small enough to learn in a day. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Ontario listings. Chalk River lies 20 km from the water. Deep River lies 25 km off, Petawawa another 28 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hardwood Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Renfrew County records list smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Take Hardwood Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 19°C and January reads -13°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan any trip to Hardwood Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. You will be walking about 770 m from the nearest car park. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Brigham Lake sits 2.3 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Hardwood Lake for certain.