Long Lake Fishing near Amigo Beach, Ontario

• Overview

  Long Lake lies in Simcoe County, in Ontario. Everything around it is mixed forest. About 1.71 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. At about 110 km of edge, most people fish a single area and learn it well. Few waters listed in Simcoe County are bigger. Supplies mean a trip to Amigo Beach, 13 km off. For a city, Barrie is 46 km off. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Simcoe County include pumpkinseed, northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and bluegill. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Long Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -10°C to 20°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Anyone fishing Long Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Round Lake sits 3.4 km off and takes the overflow. Rules at Long Lake are worth checking on the day.