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Peterborough is an angler’s paradise! Living at Nature’s Edge means you can easily travel to any of the lakes or rivers in the Kawarthas. While there are many rivers and lakes for you to visit, today we’re featuring just 5 of the many fantastic bodies of water all under an hour away from Nature’s Edge. To learn more about the rules and regulations of fishing in Peterborough, read up on the Ontario Fishing Regulations website. Make sure when you visit Peterborough you also stop by the Mario Cortellucci Hunting and Fishing Heritage Centre and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) to discover the importance of conservation in a fun and interactive way for the whole family.
Top 5 Fishing Spots Near Nature’s Edge
Otonabee River
The Otonabee River is a vital part of the Trent Severn Waterway and offers anglers many species of fish to choose from including pan fish, high quality large and small mouth bass, walleye, and many other species. There have been muskie sighted in this river in the past, so visit the weedier parts of the shoreline and the areas around the lily-pads to see if you can catch one—otherwise enjoy the fun that comes along with fishing bass, pike, and more!
Chemong Lake
Chemong Lake is nearby and commonly enjoyed by Peterborough residents. Fife’s Bay is just 8 minutes from Nature’s Edge, which makes this an easy choice for anglers any day of the week. While you can fish on Chemong Lake year-round, experienced anglers know that as the water cools, fish in Chemong become more active as they prepare for winter. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass thrive here and by the time walleye fishing begins to slow, the bass are becoming more active. Fishing on this lake any time of year will create some excellent memories and stories.
Pigeon Lake
Connected to Chemong and Buckhorn Lake, Pigeon Lake is one of the lakes in the tri-lake system that offers its fair share of wonderful fishing. On this lake you can find muskie, bass, perch, walleye, and more, each with its own fair share of challenges to make you want to return as often as possible. Visit Gannon’s Narrows and its 1.3km of hiking trails before casting a line from the shoreline into the water where Pigeon and Buckhorn Lakes connect.
Buckhorn Lake
The third in the tri-lake system is Buckhorn Lake, complete with its own unique terrain for anglers of all skillsets. The numerous rock shoals, rocky points, and shallow weedy shorelines make Buckhorn Lake a great spot for bass, muskie, walleye and more, with some folks catching up to 50” long muskie and 5-pound bass. The shallow and weedy patches of all three lakes in this system present some excellent opportunities to catch larger fish hiding in the foliage.
Rice Lake
Located only a half hour away from your new home at Nature’s Edge is Rice Lake, known far and wide by anglers across Ontario. It’s often said that Rice Lake has more fish per acre than any other lake in Ontario, so spend a weekend catching walleye, muskie, bluegill, pan fish or bass throughout the season. Join in on any of the contests that happen on Rice Lake, including the annual Rice Lake Big Fish Challenge, to test your mettle!
Some Facts about Fishing in Peterborough
- There’s no fishing on the Otonabee River from the Trent-Severn Dam at Lock 19 to Bensfort Bridge at County Road 2 from January 1 to Friday before the second Saturday in May and November 16 to December 31
- There’s no fishing on Lower Buckhorn Lake (Buckhorn Lake) - Smith and Harvey Townships, from Trent- Severn Dam to a point 400 metres below the dam from the Trent-Severn Dam at Lock 19 to Bensfort Bridge at County Road 2 from January 1 to Friday before the second Saturday in May and November 16 to December 31
Year-Round Fishing in Peterborough (Zone 17)
- Northern Pike
- Crappie
- Sunfish
- Yellow Perch
