Freshwater Fishing.
Lake Scugog is the township's anchor fishery — a shallow, weed-rich lake of about 68 km² on the Trent–Severn Waterway, managed under Fisheries Management Zone 17. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike, and muskellunge are the in-season targets; walleye has been closed since 1 January 2016 due to a walleye-population decline.
The lake fishes year-round — open water from May through October, and ice fishing for crappie, panfish, perch, and pike from Port Perry Marina hut rentals through January and February.
The brief.
The lake's character drives the fishery. Average depth is 1.4 m and the basin runs heavily weeded; that habitat supports strong largemouth bass and panfish populations and produces an early-spring black crappie window as ice goes out.
Port Perry Marina on the southwest shore is the primary access point for both open-water boats and winter ice-fishing huts; informal launches and shoreline access points sit around the lake edge as well. The Nonquon River margins on the west side and the Scugog River outflow at the north end add quieter water for shoreline and small-craft anglers.
FMZ 17 dates and limits apply across Lake Scugog and the broader Kawartha Lakes; check the current Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary before each trip — the walleye closure has remained in place since 2016 and is enforced.
4. places.
- 01
Lake Scugog (main basin and south basin)
~68 km² shallow lake on the Trent–Severn Waterway; FMZ 17; multi-species warmwater fishery (largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike, muskellunge); walleye closed since 1 January 2016.
- 02
Port Perry Marina
Southwest-shore harbour and access point; open-water angling base from May through October; ice-fishing hut rentals through the winter season.
- 03
Nonquon River margins
Marsh-edge water on the west side of the lake; quiet largemouth and panfish water.
- 04
Scugog River outflow (north end)
Lake Scugog's drainage into Sturgeon Lake and the Trent–Severn Waterway; secondary access for shoreline and small-craft anglers.
Today's read.
Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.