Fishing at Wankie Lake, Lennox and Addington County, Ontario

• Overview

  Ontario holds Wankie Lake, in Lennox and Addington County. It lies 386 metres above sea level. About 6 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For a base, Bancroft sits 44 km out. Then Eganville, 46 km, and Renfrew, 60 km. More in the same country: 0.9 km out stands Moore Lake, Little Yirkie Lake 1 km, 1.2 km out stands Lost Lake, Fritsch Lake 1.7 km and 2.5 km out stands Blakely Lake. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Wankie 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. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Take Wankie Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 18°C, with January the cold end at about -12°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Wankie Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Moore Lake at 0.9 km is the nearest alternative. Treat Wankie Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.