Fishing at Horseshoe Lake, Peterborough County, Ontario

• Overview

  Horseshoe Lake is a Peterborough County water, in Ontario. It sits at 303 metres above sea level. Roughly 10 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Bank access stretches around 1.6 km in total. Most waters listed here for Peterborough County are larger. The closest town, Bobcaygeon, is 24 km distant. For a city, Oshawa is 99 km off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Horseshoe Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name rock bass, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, muskellunge and bluegill. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Horseshoe Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 19°C, with January the cold end at about -10°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Horseshoe Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Mississagua Lake at 2 km is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Horseshoe Lake.