What To Know About Fishing Lake Simcoe

One of Canada's popular draws for fishermen is fishing Lake Simcoe. Located in the southern section of Ontario, it is the province's 4th largest lake. Its length is 19 miles at its longest point and at its widest part, it is 16 miles wide.

This lake is speckled with numerous islands, the largest of which is Georgina. This island is notable in so much as it is home to a First Nations (an aboriginal people who are not classified as either Inuit or Metis) reserve. Another notable island is Strawberry Island. In 2002 Pope John Paul II stayed at this stately retreat for four days.

Before the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and other conservation groups stepped in to help, Simcoe suffered greatly from eutrophication. This is an occurrence of excessive nutrients in the water that promote an overgrowth of aquatic weeds and algae. The oxygen levels become depleted in shallow waters where fish normally breed.

Thanks to these efforts, fishing is alive and well here. Simcoe is stocked annually with 150,000 whitefish and 100,000 trout. Some of the funding for this has been made by the "Ladies of the Lake." This organization brought the struggles of Simcoe to light and raised $250,000 with its nude picture calendar.

Anyone interested in bringing in pike would fare best during the middle of spring or in the summer. The fish generally congregate in shallow water in springtime. Cook Bay is a popular spot. In the summer, pike can be found swimming usually in water 15 to 20 feet deep.

Visiting Lake Simcoe usually results in a gratifying and memorable experience for any fisherman. Its size, beauty, and diversity of fish, makes for an angler's dream come true.