Paddy's Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Hastings County entry here is Paddy's Lake, in Ontario. The setting is mixed forest. The water covers some 19 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Nearest place of any size is Bancroft, 30 km away. Kingston is the closest city, 116 km away. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout. Trees shelter part of the bank when the wind gets up.

• Where to Fish on Paddy's Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Hastings County records list rock bass, smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Paddy's Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 19°C in July and bottom out at -10°C in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Paddy's Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Steenburg Lake, 2.4 km out. Where Paddy's Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.