Fishing at O'Melia Lake, Northumberland County, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Northumberland County, O'Melia Lake is an Ontario water. It sits at 218 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 6 hectares — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Northumberland County standards. Norwood sits 13 km from here and is the nearest stop. Campbellford follows at 14 km, then Peterborough at 28 km. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on O'Melia Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Northumberland County include rock bass, johnny darter, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and rainbow trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At O'Melia Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 20°C in July and bottoms out near -9°C in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish O'Melia Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Killoran Lake, 2.5 km out. For O'Melia Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.