Red Horse Lake near Lyndhurst (not to be confused with Redhorse Lake north of Ompah), is a terrific spot for bass, pike and lake trout, as well as perch and crappie. It has everything from rocky shores to weedy shallows and long channels. Chuck Shaw, from Shawmere Cottages, says that his guests often call the lake trout fishery, “moody,” however the depth of the lake offers excellent habitat for these deep-water lovers. John Sideris, owner of Wing’s Live Bait and Tackle, says, “Some of the lures preferred by local anglers for lake trout are gang trolls with Williams Wablers, with green, blue or copper, and Jonny Greens. Bait is frozen herring or medium sized shiners. Depending on the temperature of the water, they usually run around 65 feet or so.” Many Ontario lakes, including Red Horse, are managed for sensitive lake trout stocks. Please consult regulations for limits and closures. Shaw notes that the rocks and shoals are perfect for smallmouth bass. Most active from late spring to late fall, they can be caught with curly-tailed jigs, crankbaits, and crayfish imitations. Some of the shallow and weedy areas are good pike habitat, Shaw says. While pike are known to be attracted to large, flashy, moving objects, they generally won’t refuse much that gets in their way. These same shallow areas are good for largemouth bass, which tend to prefer the weedy cover in warmer water. Try plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Live bait is also especially enticing to bass. Red Horse and three other lakes form a navigable inland waterway about 28 km long, upstream from the Gananoque river. Power boats must navigate carefully through narrow, shallow channels between the lakes. LAKE ACCESS Red Horse lake is located immediately west of Charleston Lake Provincial Park. It is accessed via County Road 3 that runs between Lansdowne and Lyndhurst. Shawmere Cottages provide the only access to Red Horse Lake, with a boat launch for guests only. See their website at shawmere.com.