Wheeler Lake Fishing near Sharbot Lake, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Lennox and Addington County, Wheeler Lake is an Ontario water. It sits in pine and birch. The water covers some 22 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 4.4 km keeps the choices simple. It is low-lying compared with other Ontario water we list. Start from Sharbot Lake, 30 km down the road. Tweed lies 32 km off, Skatepark another 36 km. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Wheeler Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Lennox and Addington County records list pumpkinseed, rock bass and smallmouth bass among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Treat Wheeler Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 20°C, with January the cold end at about -10°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and early December closes it again. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Expect Wheeler Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Puzzle Lake Provincial Park covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Norway Mud Lake, 1.9 km away. Treat Wheeler Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.