Fishing at Steen Lake, Hastings County, Ontario

• Overview

  Steen Lake is one of the Hastings County listings for Ontario. Height above sea level is 308 metres. It measures about 52 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The full circuit measures close to 4.0 km on foot. It ranks high for size among our Hastings County listings. Bancroft sits 32 km from here and is the nearest stop. Marmora is 34 km away, with Madoc at 39 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Steen Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Hastings County list rock bass, smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Steen Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 19°C and January near -10°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Steen Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Henderson Lake sits 3.6 km off and takes the overflow. Rules at Steen Lake are worth checking on the day.