Kawarthas Northumberland’s many lakes and rivers offer excellent multi-species fishing opportunities
Throughout Kawarthas Northumberland, you’ll find calm conditions and stunning four-season fishing in over 350 pristine lakes and rivers amongst some of Ontario’s most scenic surroundings. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get hooked on this rewarding sport or a seasoned fisherman aiming to catch your personal-best, the lakes and rivers of Kawarthas Northumberland are a true angler’s paradise!
Looking for more details specifically on boating? Jump to our dedicated Boating page.
If you’re seeking advice on non-motorized canoe, kayak, and SUP destinations, visit our Paddling page.
With so much choice, how do you find the right spots for you? We’ve asked the experts. Some of Canada’s most experienced guides work these waters. Take a look at our blog to get valuable insights, tips & tricks (as well as local hot spots) directly from local pro Chris Huskilson. We’ve gathered it all together for you here. It’s a sure-fire recipe for some of the best freshwater fishing you’ll ever experience.
The region has no shortage of opportunity to cast your line and feel the thrill of that first bite. Whether you’re looking to catch a muskie, pike, walleye, large or smallmouth bass, panfish, gar, or carp, there are many resorts in the region that offer boat rental packages and we also have an abundance of fish-from-shore locations and public boat launches where you can catch the fish of a lifetime.
Kawarthas Northumberland offers some of the best multi-species fishing in the province. Cast your line and enjoy the fall colours as you wait for a bite. With the comfortable weather, calm waters and little-to-no traffic, fall may just be the most perfect time of year for fishing. You can also find additional fishing inspiration (and pro tips and hot spots from a local expert) by taking a read through our fishing blog.
If you want to put your boat in the water, in any of our over 350 lakes and rivers, you need to start somewhere—and that somewhere is usually a public boat ramp. Our resident fishing blogger, Chris Huskilson, has provided a list of some of the public ramps and the fish from shore GPS coordinates.
| Lake | Public Ramp Coordinates | Fish from Shore Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Katchawanooka Lake | 44° 25’47.8″N 78° 16‘11.2″W | |
| Little Lake (Peterborough) | 44°17’55.5″N 78°18’17.9″W | |
| Little Lake (Peterborough) | 44 17’58.5″N 78 18’31.7″W | |
| Little Lake (Peterborough) | 44 17’48.6″N 78 18’57.8″W | |
| Little Lake (Peterborough) | 44 17’36.0″N 78 19’00.1″W | |
| Mitchell Lake | 44° 34.035‘ N 78° 57.391 W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 12‘43.0″N 78° 21‘18.1″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44°24’59.5″N 78°15’55.5″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44 12’56.0″N 78 14’00.8″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44 12’56.0″N 78 14’00.8″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44 22’22.4″N 78 17’14.8″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44 22’10.5″N 78 17’27.3″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44 21’11.1″N 78 17’33.7″W | |
| Stony Lake | 44° 32‘01.7″N 78° 08‘40.0″W | |
| Rice Lake | 44°14’30.0″N 78°09’30.9″W | |
| Rice Lake | 44°15’50.5″N 78°03’48.1″W | 44°15’49.5″N 78°03’47.2″W |
| Pigeon Lake | 44°18’01.5″N 78°33’21.1″W | 44°18’01.5″N 78°33’21.1″W |
| Pigeon Lake | 44°35’11.6″N 78°30’41.2″W | |
| Stoney Lake | 44°32’01.7″N 78°08’40.0″W | |
| Stoney Lake | 44°33’54.2″N 78°08’17.1″W | |
| Balsam Lake | 44°34.421’N 78°47.661’W | |
| Balsam Lake | 44°34.676’N 78°53.718’W | |
| Scugog Lake | 44°9.661’N 78°49.948’W | |
| Scugog Lake | 44°6.445’N 78°56.613’W | |
| Round Lake | 44°30’18.2″N 77°52’35.5″W | |
| Crowe Lake | 44°28’16.6″N 77°46’02.5″W | |
| Jack’s Lake | 44°42’39.4″N 78°03’57.3″W | |
| Chandos Lake | 44°50’31.9″N 77°59’00.5″W | |
| Canal Lake | 44° 33.608‘ N 79° 2.744‘ W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 24‘59.5″N 78° 15‘55.5″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 22‘03.8″N 78° 17‘26.0″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 21‘13.9″N 78° 17‘27.9″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 19‘32.3″N 78° 18‘11.5″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 16‘48.7″N 78° 18‘59.4″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 16‘26.6″N 78° 19‘26.1″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 12‘43.0″N 78° 21‘18.1″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 11‘04.5″N 78° 20‘09.8″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 12‘04.3″N 78° 18‘29.0″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 12‘19.3″N 78° 16‘49.0″W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 12‘55.6″N 78° 13‘59.9″W | |
| Dalrymple Lake | 44° 38.416‘ N 79° 6.699‘ W | |
| Mitchell Lake | 44° 34.035‘ N 78° 57.391 W | |
| Katchawanooka Lake | 44° 25‘38.5″N 78° 16‘16.6″W | |
| Kasshabog Lake | 44° 36‘39.2″N 77° 59‘31.9″W | |
| Mississauga Lake | 44° 42.534‘N 78° 19.700‘ W | |
| Salmon Lake | 44° 49.559‘N 78° 26.831‘ W | |
| Gull Lake | 44° 49.240‘N 78° 46.670‘ W | |
| Little Boshkung Lake | 45° 0.363‘N 78° 42.227‘ W | |
| Otonabee River | 44° 24‘59.5″N 78° 15‘55.5″W | |
| Little Lake | 44° 17‘55.5″N 78° 18‘17.9″W | |
| Sturgeon Lake | 44.36329 N 78.73700 W | 44.363557 N 78.737161 W |
| Burnt River | 44.782447 N 78.651960 W | |
| Lovesick Lake | 44.558 N 78.208 W | |
| Gull River | 44.74390 N 78.82477 W | |
| Bass Lake | 44.67863 N 78.52511 W | |
| Cameron Lake | 44.53726 N 78.74132 W | |
| Big Cedar | 44.60154 N 78.16528 W | |
| Coon Lake | 44.60289 N 78.19526 W | |
| Belmont Lake | 44.4860283 N 77.8176624 W | |
| Little Boshkung Lake | 45 2.710′ N 78 43.199′ W |
Drive past a good fishing lake in Kawarthas Northumberland during the winter and chances are good you’ll see a smattering of ice huts out on the water. Ice fishing puts a unique twist on familiar activity, and it’s accessible to participants of all ages. The biggest challenge for some people is knowing how to get started, so we’ve put together a handful of options to help make it fun and easy.
The best place for a newbie to try their hand at ice fishing is at the OFAH Family Fishing Weekend. This annual tradition takes place over the Family Day weekend and allows fishing without a license, making for a convenient and affordable outing. Equipment is provided through the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ TackleShare program. All holes are pre-drilled, and prizes are dished out to keep young fisherfolk engaged. Ice conditions are checked regularly leading up to the event to ensure a safe experience for the 1,000 expected participants.
If this event sounds intriguing, shuttles depart regularly to BEL Rotary Park north of Peterborough and experts are on site to demonstrate the tools of the trade. Chemong Lake provides an excellent habitat for perch, bluegill, and crappie, so odds of landing a catch are good. Just note if you’re having a very lucky day on the ice, all regular license limits must still be observed.
The Kawarthas Northumberland blog is the place to go for longer stories and additional recommendations. Browse the articles below to find out more about fishing in the region.
Looking for more details specifically on fishing? Jump to our dedicated Fishing page.
If you’re seeking advice on non-motorized canoe, kayak, and SUP destinations, visit our Paddling page.
The Kawarthas Northumberland region is an ice angler’s paradise! So many species! So little time it seems. The frozen lakes provide an exciting and affordable way to get into the sport of ice fishing.
The angling opportunities available year round are simply astounding. The fall is a special time of year, however, and the scenery is simply breathtaking.
August and September can be one of the best times of the year to catch big fish in the Kawarthas Northumberland region. As we reach the end of August and the days start to shorten, the nights a little cooler and the leaves begin to change so does the trigger for our native fish species to feed!