Stony Lake Fishing near Lakefield, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Stony Lake in the Peterborough County part of Ontario. It lies 232 metres above sea level. It covers about 36.16 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. It ranks high for size among our Peterborough County listings. The closest town, Lakefield, is 18 km distant. Oshawa sits 94 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Stony Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Peterborough County cover rock bass, pumpkinseed and smallmouth bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Stony Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 20°C; the cold one sits at -9°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Stony Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try White Lake, 3.8 km away. Nothing here settles the position at Stony Lake for certain.