Freshwater Fishing.
Limerick Lake is provincially designated a cold-water lake trout spawning lake — a Hastings County rarity that pulls lake trout anglers north of Belleville every spring. The lake holds smallmouth and largemouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, and pumpkinseed alongside the lake trout, all under Fisheries Management Zone 15 rules administered by Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources.
The brief.
Lake trout season runs from the third Saturday in May through September 30, with a slot limit (no fish 40–55 cm retained) under FMZ 15. Bass open later in the season, and ice fishing through late November to late April extends the fishable year.
FMZ 15 sits inside the Central Bait Management Zone — live or dead baitfish and leeches may not be transported into or out of the BMZ, which matters for anglers driving in from outside the zone. Access is from the public launch ramp at the dam, Martins Landing on Limerick Lake's southwest shore, and the Woods Camp Ground marina on adjacent St.
Ola Lake. Steenburg Lake adds a bass and panfish layer on the same chain, with launches from Steenburg Lake Public Beach and shoreline cottage access.
3. places.
- 01
Limerick Lake
Cold-water lake trout spawning lake reaching about 35 metres at maximum depth; lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, pumpkinseed; FMZ 15.
- 02
Steenburg Lake
Bass and panfish across the six-island chain; FMZ 15.
- 03
St. Ola Lake
Adjacent lake with public marina access at Woods Camp Ground.
Today's read.
Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.
By the book.
- 01Limerick Lake fishing falls under Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 15. Lake trout season runs from the third Saturday in May to September 30, with no fish 40–55 cm retained.Source ↗
- 02FMZ 15 is part of the Central Bait Management Zone — live or dead baitfish and leeches may not be transported into or out of the BMZ.Source ↗