North Longford Lake Fishing near Gravenhurst, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for North Longford Lake in the District Municipality of Muskoka part of Ontario. The water sits 264 metres up. This is sizeable water at about 1.12 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. A shoreline of some 4.4 km keeps the choices simple. Few waters listed in District Municipality of Muskoka are bigger. Supplies mean a trip to Gravenhurst, 22 km off. Bracebridge lies 24 km off, Amigo Beach another 33 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on North Longford Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for District Municipality of Muskoka cover pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and northern pike. The county list is broader than any single water. Work North Longford Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -10°C to 19°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on North Longford Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, South Longford Lake is 1.6 km off. Nothing here settles the position at North Longford Lake for certain.