Silva Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Silva Lake belongs to Hastings County, Ontario. The water sits 332 metres up. The water covers some 23 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 3.7 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Bancroft lies 37 km from the water. After that come Madoc at 40 km and Tweed at 45 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Silva Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Hastings County records list rock bass, smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. On Silva Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 19°C and January reads -11°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Silva Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Boundary Lake is 4.5 km off. Check the position at Silva Lake before loading the car.