Fishing at Mannerheim Lake, Frontenac County, Ontario

• Overview

  Ontario holds Mannerheim Lake, in Frontenac County. It sits in rolling bush country. At about 20 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. There is roughly 1.8 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Sharbot Lake lies 25 km from the water. The nearest city of size is Kingston, 81 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Mannerheim Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Frontenac County include pumpkinseed, bluegill, rock bass, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Mannerheim Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -11°C to 19°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mannerheim Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Charles Lake at 0.9 km is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Mannerheim Lake.