McGinnis Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  McGinnis Lake is listed under Peterborough County, Ontario. The surface lies 254 metres up. Surface area runs to about 5 hectares — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Peterborough County. Nearest place of any size is Norwood, 25 km away. Lakefield follows at 26 km, then Marmora at 32 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on McGinnis Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Peterborough County, recorded fish include rock bass, pumpkinseed and smallmouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. At McGinnis Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 19°C in July and bottom out at -10°C in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Anyone fishing McGinnis Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. You can leave the car about 200 m from the water. There are picnic tables 170 m away. Public toilets are recorded roughly 220 m off. The water borders Petroglyphs Provincial Park, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Some banks are open only from a marked point. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Minnow Lake at 2.1 km is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to McGinnis Lake locally before you travel.