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

• Overview

  The Frontenac County end of Ontario holds Shaw Lake. The ground round it is lake country bush. At about 23 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Shoreline comes to about 3.7 km, small enough to learn in a day. Supplies mean a trip to Sharbot Lake, 35 km off. The nearest city of size is Kingston, 95 km away. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Shaw Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Frontenac County: pumpkinseed, bluegill, rock bass and smallmouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Shaw Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -11°C in January up to 19°C in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Expect Shaw Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Kring Lake, 0.7 km away. Treat Shaw Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.