No words needed for this picture...just so peaceful.

Easy launch and lots of parking

Easy launch and lots of parking

"Chemong Lake is a gem among the amazing Kawartha fisheries. Rick Daniels, owner of Chemong Lake Fishing Charters, says that Chemong Lake really is a four-season fishery, though the best time is the fall. The fish become more active as the water cools, and Daniels notes that “bodies of water that always seemed [busy] ... are now wide open for you,” he says. Both on the water and from shore, you’ve got lots of space for fishing. Even better, the fish are feeding for winter. Lloyd Moore, owner of Angler’s Retreat on Rice Lake, says that Chemong Lake’s shallow, weedy areas provide excellent fish cover and also ramp up the nutrient level in the lake. The water in a shallower lake such as Chemong will cool off faster than in deeper water, and can hit that fall fishing prime time earlier into September and October. Daniels reminds anglers that if you’re targeting weedy areas, stick to the green weeds, avoiding dying vegetation, which is “not fish friendly,” he says. He advises that for walleye, anglers should pay attention to the light conditions. Walleye prefer low light, cloudy days, early mornings and later evenings. Daniels suggests a four inch blue Rapala or a similar type of lure, trolled very slowly. 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. Moore notes that there is a healthy muskie population in Chemong Lake. “If you’re targeting muskie, chances are you’ll catch them,” he says. “Keep in mind that there are minimum sizes for muskie,” he adds. Both Moore and Daniels highlight the excellent fisheries for bass and panfish, as well. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass thrive here, and by the time the walleye fishing is slowing down, the bass are becoming more active. Daniels says, “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. Daniels suggests that “spinner baits, in line spinners, crank baits, artificial worms, real worms all work well. I have caught a number of giant bass recently with just a plain hook and free swimming minnow with just enough weight to take it down when needed.” Moore adds that 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. "

5" good ice catching perch