Fishing in the Kawarthas & Haliburton

1. Kawartha Lakes -- Sturgeon Lake (Muskie, Walleye)

Lindsay area

Sturgeon Lake is one of the premier muskie lakes in the Kawarthas. The lake also holds walleye, bass, and panfish.

2. Kawartha Lakes -- Pigeon Lake (Muskie, Walleye)

Bobcaygeon area

Pigeon Lake offers excellent muskie, walleye, and bass fishing. The lake is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway.

3. Kawartha Lakes -- Chemong Lake (Walleye)

Bridgenorth area

Chemong Lake offers good walleye, bass, and panfish fishing. The lake is shallower than other Kawartha Lakes.

4. Kawartha Lakes -- Rice Lake (Muskie, Walleye)

Peterborough area

Rice Lake offers excellent walleye, bass, and muskie fishing. It is one of the most popular fishing lakes in the Kawarthas.

5. Haliburton -- Haliburton Lake (Brook Trout, Lake Trout)

Haliburton

Haliburton Lake offers lake trout, splake, and brook trout fishing in a beautiful highland setting.

6. Haliburton -- Kushog Lake (Brook Trout, Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass)

Near Minden

Kushog Lake offers smallmouth bass, lake trout, and brook trout fishing in a scenic Haliburton setting.

7. Trent-Severn Waterway (Muskie, Walleye)

Trenton to Port Severn

The Trent-Severn Waterway offers diverse fishing along its entire length, from walleye and bass to muskie and panfish.

8. Muskoka Lakes (Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass)

Bracebridge area

Muskoka lakes -- Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau, and Lake Joseph -- offer smallmouth bass, lake trout, and pike.

9. Lake Simcoe (Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye, Whitefish, Yellow Perch)

Barrie area -- 1 hour north of Toronto

Lake Simcoe is one of Ontario's most popular and productive fishing lakes. The lake offers exceptional fishing for lake trout, whitefish, yellow perch, walleye, and northern pike. Lake Simcoe is particularly famous for its ice fishing -- the lake hosts thousands of ice huts each winter, making it one of the premier ice fishing destinations in North America.

In summer, lake trout fishing is excellent in the deeper basins (60-100 feet), particularly around Georgina Island and Snake Island. Yellow perch fishing is outstanding throughout the lake, with fish averaging 8-12 inches. Walleye populations have rebounded strongly in recent years, with the lake now producing good numbers of 2-4 pound fish.

Key access points include Barrie, Keswick, Beaverton, Orillia, and Sibbald Point Provincial Park. The lake has numerous marinas, boat launches, and ice hut operators. Anglers should note that Lake Simcoe has specific regulations including a reduced lake trout limit and seasonal closures on certain species. The lake's size (725 sq km) means anglers should check weather conditions before heading out, as it can get rough in high winds.

10. Lake Couchiching (Walleye)

Orillia area

Lake Couchiching offers excellent walleye, bass, and perch fishing. The lake connects to Lake Simcoe.

11. Lake Scugog (Walleye)

Port Perry area

Lake Scugog offers walleye, bass, and panfish fishing. The lake's shallow, stained water provides good fishing.

12. Buckhorn Lake (Muskie, Walleye)

Buckhorn area

Buckhorn Lake offers excellent muskie, walleye, and bass fishing in the Kawartha Lakes chain.

13. Balsam Lake (Kawartha)

Near Coboconk

Balsam Lake offers excellent walleye, muskie, and smallmouth bass fishing at the highest point of the Trent-Severn Waterway.

14. Mitchell Lake (Haliburton)

Near Haliburton

Mitchell Lake offers lake trout and brook trout fishing in the Haliburton Highlands.

15. Kennisis Lake (Haliburton)

West of Haliburton

Kennisis Lake offers lake trout, smallmouth bass, and brook trout fishing.

16. Redstone Lake (Haliburton)

Near Haliburton

Redstone Lake offers lake trout and brook trout fishing in a scenic Haliburton setting.

17. Elephant Lake (Haliburton)

Near Harcourt

Elephant Lake offers walleye, smallmouth bass, and lake trout fishing.

18. Magnetawan Lake (Haliburton)

Near Gooderham

Magnetawan Lake offers lake trout and smallmouth bass fishing in the Haliburton Highlands.

19. Horseshoe Lake (Haliburton)

Near Algonquin Park

Horseshoe Lake offers brook trout and lake trout fishing near Algonquin Park.

20. Lake Traverse (Algonquin)

Algonquin Park

Lake Traverse offers lake trout and brook trout fishing in the southern region of Algonquin Park.

21. Smoke Lake (Algonquin)

Algonquin Park

Smoke Lake offers lake trout and smallmouth bass fishing in Algonquin Park.

22. Cameron Lake (Kawartha)

Near Fenelon Falls

Cameron Lake offers excellent muskie, walleye, and bass fishing.

23. Sandy Lake (Kawartha)

Near Oakwood

Sandy Lake offers good walleye, bass, and panfish fishing in the Kawartha Lakes.

24. Mississagua Lake (Haliburton)

Near Haliburton

Mississagua Lake offers lake trout and brook trout fishing.

25. Boshkung Lake (Haliburton)

Near Minden

Boshkung Lake offers lake trout, smallmouth bass, and walleye fishing.

26. Halls Lake (Haliburton)

Near Minden

Halls Lake offers smallmouth bass, lake trout, and brook trout.

27. Twelve Mile Lake (Haliburton)

Near Haliburton

Twelve Mile Lake offers lake trout and smallmouth bass.

28. Fairy Lake (Haliburton)

Near Haliburton

Fairy Lake offers smallmouth bass, brook trout, and lake trout.

29. James Lake (Haliburton)

Near Minden

James Lake offers smallmouth bass and lake trout in a quiet Haliburton setting.

30. Lake Opeongo (Algonquin)

Algonquin Park

Lake Opeongo is the largest lake in Algonquin Park offering excellent lake trout and brook trout.

31. Rock Lake (Algonquin)

Algonquin Park

Rock Lake offers lake trout, smallmouth bass, and brook trout in Algonquin Park.

32. Galeairy Lake (Algonquin)

Near Whitney

Galeairy Lake offers lake trout and brook trout at the east gate of Algonquin Park.

33. Cache Lake (Algonquin)

Algonquin Park

Cache Lake offers lake trout and brook trout near the Algonquin Park visitor centre.