Riddles Lake in Hastings County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Riddles Lake sits within Hastings County in Ontario. This is mixed forest ground. This is a pocket water of some 8 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The closest town, Bancroft, is 6.4 km distant. After that come United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde at 49 km and Haliburton Village at 52 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Riddles Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Hastings County cover rock bass, smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Riddles Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 18°C on average, January about -11°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Riddles Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, West Mullet Lake is 1.9 km off. The position on Riddles Lake is worth confirming on the day.