Stuart Lake in District Municipality of Muskoka: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Stuart Lake lies in District Municipality of Muskoka, Ontario. The bank is 190 metres above sea level. Ground here is low by Ontario standards. Penetanguishene lies 18 km from the water. After that come Midland at 20 km and Gravenhurst at 33 km. Close by you also have: Buck Lake after 1.5 km, McCrae Lake just 1.8 km, Bearshead Lake after 3.8 km, Baxter Lake just 4.3 km and Six Mile Lake after 4.3 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Stuart Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for District Municipality of Muskoka include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and northern pike. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Stuart Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 19°C; the cold one sits at -9°C. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and early December closes it again. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan around that when you fish Stuart Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Expect a 830 m walk in from where the car goes. A campsite lies 1 km away for anyone staying over. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Buck Lake, 1.5 km out. Rules at Stuart Lake are worth checking on the day.