North Finnegan Lake near Bancroft: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Hastings County end of Ontario holds North Finnegan Lake. Beyond the shoreline you have pine and birch. Surface area runs to about 8 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Head to Bancroft, 11 km away, for anything you forgot. It is 134 km to Kingston, the nearest city. If this one is busy: Baytree Lake (2.8 km), Ragged Lake after 3 km, Pine Lake (3.1 km), McCallum Lake after 3.8 km and McMurray Lake (4 km). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on North Finnegan Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Hastings County include rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On North Finnegan Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 18°C; by January the average is down near -11°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. That is the shape of the year on North Finnegan Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Baytree Lake sits 2.8 km off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for North Finnegan Lake.