Fishing at Oak Lake, Peterborough County, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Oak Lake in Peterborough County, Ontario. It lies 254 metres above sea level. It measures some 3.21 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. You are looking at roughly 19 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. On our Peterborough County list it sits near the top for size. You are 22 km from Marmora. Oshawa sits 108 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Oak Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Peterborough County records list rock bass, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, muskellunge and bluegill among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Oak Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 19°C, with January the cold end at about -10°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Oak Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Blind Lake at 2.1 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Oak Lake for certain.