Pringle Lake in Frontenac County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Frontenac County in Ontario is where Pringle Lake sits. It sits at 310 metres above sea level. At some 1.21 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Around 8.9 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. On our Frontenac County list it sits near the top for size. Sharbot Lake sits 44 km from here and is the nearest stop. Tweed lies 44 km off, Madoc another 44 km. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Pringle Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Frontenac County cover pumpkinseed, bluegill, rock bass and smallmouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Pringle Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -11°C and July at about 19°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Pringle Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Skootamatta Lake, 3.5 km away. For Pringle Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.