Fishing Charter + Guide Chemong Lake

About Chemong Lake

Chemong Lake is the largest in the Kawartha Chain of Lakes, covering more than 5,630 acres. Stretching almost nine miles in length, Chemong Lake also connects with other lakes in the Kawartha region. It is known for being a part of the famed Trent-Severn Waterway system of locks and canals. Chemong Lake, along with the connected Buckhorn and Pigeon Lakes, are called the ‘Tri Lakes’ system and host more fishing tournaments than any other group of lakes in the Kawartha region. The most popular types of fish that can be found in Chemong Lake include Large and Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Yellow Perch. Follow along with our fishing guide of Chemong Lake where we’ll take you through where and how to find and catch these common species of fish. 

Where to Find Different Species of Fish on Chemong Lake

Chemong Lake really is a four-season fishery, although the best season to fish is during the Fall. The fish tend to become more active as the water cools down and begin to feed for the winter. The lake's shallow, weedy areas provide excellent fish cover and ramp up the nutrient level in the lake. When targeting weedy areas, stick to the green weeds, while avoiding dying vegetation, which is not ‘fish friendly’. When fishing for walleye, anglers should pay attention to the light conditions. Walleye prefer low light, cloudy days, early mornings and later evenings. There is also a healthy muskie population in Chemong Lake. If you’re targeting muskie, chances are you’ll catch them. Keep in mind that there are minimum sizes for muskie. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass thrive here, and by the time the walleye fishing is slowing down, the bass are becoming more active. Bass are predominantly an ambush type predator and can be caught almost any time of day or night under almost any conditions. The type of habitat varies for largemouth or smallmouth bass, with largemouth bass preferring to hang out in weedier drop off areas where there are bullrushes or lily pads. Smallmouth bass, on the other hand, generally prefer rocky points, shoals, and underwater structure. 

How to Catch Different Species of Fish on Buckhorn Lake

A four inch blue Rapala or a similar type of lure, trolled very slowly should do the trick to catch the walleye you’ve been searching for. On bright days, try anchoring just beside the deep edge of a large weed bed and toss a plain hooked minnow in with a short leader. For best results the minnow should be about 3 inches long, and hooked just slightly below the dorsal fin so it can swim freely. If the minnow does expire, you can transfer it to a jig and work the lure. Spinner baits, in line spinners, crank baits, artificial worms, real worms all work well. Even plain cane poles with a line on the end can be productive. In a lake such as Chemong, anglers don’t need to work very hard to see results. 

If you’re looking for great fishing, with a variety of species to fish from but aren’t familiar with the area, book one of our fishing charters with one of our experienced fishing guides! We offer a variety of fishing guides and fishing charters on Chemong Lake to suit your experience level and expectations. Our friendly and knowledgeable fishing guides will make your fishing charter of Chemong Lake a fun, educational and memorable experience!