Fishing Steenburg Lake in Hastings County, Ontario

• Overview

  You will find Steenburg Lake in Hastings County, Ontario. It lies 315 metres above sea level. At 2.91 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. With 17 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. It is among the larger waters listed here for Hastings County. Nearest place of any size is Bancroft, 29 km away. The nearest city of size is Kingston, 116 km away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Steenburg Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Hastings County include rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Steenburg Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -10°C and July at about 19°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. At Steenburg Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Paddy's Lake, 2.4 km away. Treat Steenburg Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.