Madawaska Lake Fishing in Haliburton County, Ontario

• Overview

  Madawaska Lake lies in Haliburton County, Ontario. The water sits 421 metres up. It measures some 1.91 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. The perimeter runs near 13 km, so plan the walk before you start. Few waters listed in Haliburton County are bigger. Barrie sits 145 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Madawaska Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Haliburton County include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and rock bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Madawaska Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -12°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Madawaska Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A campsite lies 430 m away for anyone staying over. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. 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. The nearest alternative is German Lake, 1.4 km out. Signs at Madawaska Lake carry more weight than any list.