Little Margaret Lake in Haliburton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Haliburton County, Ontario, you have Little Margaret Lake. This is lake country bush ground. It measures about 24 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.4 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Nearest place of any size is Haliburton Village, 32 km away. The nearest city of size is Barrie, 102 km away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Little Margaret Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Haliburton County cover smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, rock bass and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Little Margaret Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 18°C, with January the cold end at about -11°C. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Little Margaret Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A campsite is mapped about 200 m away, which makes an early start easier. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Margaret Lake at 1.1 km is the nearest alternative. The position on Little Margaret Lake is worth confirming on the day.