Fishing at Robinson Lake, Hastings County, Ontario

• Overview

  You will find Robinson Lake in Hastings County, Ontario. It stands 278 metres above sea level. It measures about 34 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline length is close to 5.3 km, and each section fishes a little differently. Start from Bancroft, 29 km down the road. Eganville is 51 km and United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde 62 km. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Robinson Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Hastings County include rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Robinson Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -12°C to 19°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Open water usually runs from late April until about early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish Robinson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. 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. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Baileys Lake is 2.5 km off. Ask locally about Robinson Lake if anything is unclear.