Jarvis Lake near Madoc: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Hastings County end of Ontario holds Jarvis Lake. The surface lies 212 metres up. The water covers around 1.21 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. With 5.0 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. It ranks high for size among our Hastings County listings. For a base, Madoc sits 7.5 km out. Marmora lies 9.6 km off, Tweed another 20 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Jarvis Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Hastings County include rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Jarvis Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 20°C, with January the cold end at about -10°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to Jarvis Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Banker Lake is 3.9 km distant. Check the position at Jarvis Lake before loading the car.