Little Long Lake in Peterborough County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Ontario, Little Long Lake falls inside Peterborough County. Around the bank it is pine and birch. With some 20 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge covers about 6.9 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. Start from Lakefield, 29 km down the road. Oshawa is the closest city, 103 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Little Long Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Peterborough County records list rock bass, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, muskellunge and bluegill among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Little Long Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 19°C; by January the average is down near -10°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Little Long Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The car has to stay 1.4 km away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. There is a campsite 1.3 km from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Bolger Lake, 0.8 km out. The position on Little Long Lake is worth confirming on the day.