Rocky shoal

Rocky shoal

Quite shallow. Didn't seem productive at all

Stay away from this point

Out on a beautiful summer day throwing jigs to my favorite rock piles. All of a sudden I thought I was snagged. Little did I know I had a nice 5 pound plus smalley on my line. What a great day and such a great catch.

Unspoiled pine forest, rocky points, sheltered bays and beautiful islands set in clear, blue waters make for a classic Canadian Shield experience at Crotch Lake. You’ll find walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. Crotch Lake sees a lot of pressure, so it’s helpful to have a game plan. Angler’s Atlas member Adam Leach says that the western bay at the north end has fish, but it gets pretty shallow in the summer. “Target the tops of weed beds when fishing for largemouth bass,” he says. Leach says that the north end is the most favourable area for largemouth bass. The rest of the lake is generally quite deep and a little too cool for the bass. At the north end, however, it’s shallower. “Target bass with crank baits and lipless baits, use natural minnow colors like silver or black, orange or green,” he suggests. During warmer months, fishing slows right down, making ice fishing seem steadier and more productive. Live bait is more effective than using only lures. Please note: Leach warns that the open water area is susceptible to gail-force winds when there are storms in the area. Please monitor the weather carefully. LAKE ACCESS One of the largest and most accessible lakes in North Frontenac Provincial Park, Crotch Lake offers 77 campsites and a hiking trail through wetlands along the southwest shore. Take Road 509 near the community of Ompah. Turn south on South Bush Road, which leads to a Crown road leading to the north end of the lake. Southern access is provided by Ardoch Road. There is a lodge and a boat launch at the north end of the lake, or guests can access the water from Tumblehome Lodge on the lake’s southernmost shore.