The Big Three
Lake Joseph
Maximum Depth: 93 metres
Major Fish Species: Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Whitefish, Northern Pike
Distance from Toronto: 2-2.5 hours
Lake Rosseau
Maximum Depth: 60 metres
Major Fish Species: Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Whitefish, Northern Pike
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Lake Muskoka
Largest of the Big 3
Maximum Depth: 67 metres
Major Fish Species: Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Whitefish, Northern Pike
Distance from Toronto: 1.5-2 hours
Port Carling Area
Ada Lake
Mean Depth: 3 metres
Fish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike and yellow perch.
Ada is a peaceful lake situated amongst the famous and larger Muskoka Lakes. Most of the residences are on the east shore look onto a beautiful view of wooded hills. The locals describe it as “The jewel of the Muskokas”.
Distance from Toronto: 2.25 hours
Brandy Lake
Maximum Depth: 7.5 metres
Mean Depth: 3.5 metres
Fish: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, burbot, walleye and northern pike.
Brandy Lake is just 5 minutes from Port Carling.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Butterfly Lake
Maximum Depth: 6 metres
Mean Depth: 4 metres
Fish: northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and largemouth bass
Butterfly Lake is a quant and unique spot in Muskoka and is located just minutes from Bala & Port Carling.
Distance from Toronto: 2 hours
Henshaw Lake
Maximum Depth: 14 metres
Mean Depth: 6 metres
Fish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and northern pike.
Henshaw Lake is quite small but exudes the Muskoka vibe. It’s just south of Port Carling near the junction of Hwy 118 and 7.
Distance from Toronto: 2 hours
Silver Lake
Maximum Depth: 21 metres
Mean Depth: 11 metres
Fish: rainbow trout, yellow perch, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.
Mirror Lake
Maximum Depth: 8 metres
Mirror Lake is in the Muskoka River on the Lake Muskoka side of the locks. Most people don’t even realize its a lake.
Leonard Lake
Maximum Depth: 18.3 metres
Mean Depth: 6.8 metres
Leonard Lake is located just 15 minutes from Port Carling, closer to Bracebridge.
Its fish include rainbow trout, lake whitefish, burbot, smallmouth bass and walleye.
BALA/TORRANCE AREA
Clear Lake
Maximum Depth: 17 metres
Mean Depth: 8 metres
Clear Lake is in Torrance, right in the heart of Muskoka. As the name suggests, Clear Lake has gorgeous clear water and hardly any weed, allowing you to see over 15 feet into the water. Only miles away from Bala.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Black Lake
Maximum Depth: 3 metres
Mean Depth: 2 metres
Major Fish Species: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike
8 Minute drive to Bala
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Gibson Lake
Maximum Depth: 14 metres
Mean Depth: 7.6 metres
Major Fish Species: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie
20 minute drive to Bala
The lake is 7 kilometres long and flows into Georgian Bay through Gibson River. Gibson Lake has a small island which holds an annual picnic festival on the first weekend of August. There are swimming, canoeing, and tubing competitions and the winners are given prizes which are sponsored by the Gibson Lake Cottage Association.
Distance from Toronto: 2 hours
Gullwing Lake
Maximum Depth: 9 metres
Mean Depth: 4 metres
10 minutes to Bala, 20 minutes to Gravenhurst and 25 minutes to Port Carling
Major Fish Species: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike.
With only about 25 cottages on the lake, Gullwing is the spot if you’re looking for a re-laxing and quiet property in Muskoka. This area was settled by Swedish families.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Mactier
Bass Lake
Mean Depth: 3.1 metres
Bass Lake is located in Mactier. Although small in size, Bass Lake offers unsurpassed privacy and a sense of community. The Bass Lake Association is responsible for ensuring the preservation of the lake and the surrounding natural environment and maintaining communication among all cottagers on Bass Lake.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Cassidy Lake
Maximum depth: 9 metres
Mean Depth: 4 metres
Cassidy Lake is 15 minutes from Port carling. Cassidy’s major fish species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and black crappie.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Healey Lake
Maximum Depth: 23 metres
Mean Depth: 6 metres
Healey Lake has a public boat launch, and fish species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and black crappie. Bracebridge is only a 20 minute drive from Healey Lake.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Kapikog Lake
Maximum Depth: 15 metres
Mean Depth: 5.6
Fish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie and northern pike.
Kapikog is located 20 minutes from Mactier.
Distance from Toronto: 3 hours
Stewart Lake
Maximum Depth: 20.4 metres
Mean Depth: 7.1 metres
Fish: mostly smallmouth bass and pike
If you’re looking to relax and enjoy the peace of nature in Muskoka then Stewart Lake is perfect for you. Located just outside of the well-known Muskoka town of MacTier, Stewart Lake has both a public swimming beach and a boat launch. Just a 10 minute drive to Lake Joseph, you will be able to attend events such as the Celebrate Muskoka Clam Bake and the Lake Joseph Golf Club.
Distance from Toronto: 2.25 hours
Gravenhurst
Kahshe Lake
Maximum Depth: 21 metres
Mean Depth: 5 metres
Kashe Lake, which is located just South of Gravenhurst, is the fourth largest lake in Muskoka and is home to over 600 cottages. The word Kashe was created by early native settlers. Some say that it means “Lake of Healing Waters”, while others call it “Lake of Many Rocks”. A notable part of Kashe Lake is the public beach on North Kahshe Lake Road. The beach is a popular spot for boaters, residents and cottagers to gather as a community. Fun Fact, the lake was event featured in a popular Tim Hortons commer-cial!
The lake has numerous community events throughout the summer including barn dances, concerts and a Kahshe Lake Regatta.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Gull Lake
Maximum Depth: 8.2 metres
Mean Depth: 4.4 metres
There are numerous major fish species including smallmouth bass, yellow perch, largemouth bass, rock bass and rainbow trout. Gull Lake is in the geographic township of Muskoka within the Town of Gravenhurst.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Morrison Lake
Maximum Depth: 18 metres
Mean Depth: 4 metres
The major fish species in Morrison Lake are smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, muskellunge and northern pike.
25 minutes from Gravenhurst.
Distance to Toronto: 2 hours 15 min
Muldrew Lake
Maximum Depth: 18 metres
Mean Depth: 7 metres
Major fish species are smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, black crappie.
Muldrew lake has a very active lake association
‘The Muldrew Lakes Cottagers’ Association (MLCA) is committed to fostering a co-operative and mutually caring home for all our cottagers while paying special attention to the unique environment and ecosystem of our lakes’.
Muldrew is a 20 minute drive to Gravenhurst.
Distance to Toronto: 2 hours
Pine Lake
Maximum Depth: 9 metres
Your catch of the day will most likely be a largemouth or smallmouth bass, however pickerel, sunfish and perch are also present. Pine Lake is located off Hwy #169 just 2 km north west of Gravenhurst.
Distance to Toronto: 2 hours
Loon Lake
Maximum Depth: 4.8 metres
Loon Lake is located northwest of the Town of Gravenhurst in Muskoka Ward. Loon Lake is a headwater lake meaning that it has no upstream lakes, however it does flow into Turtle Lake to the south and eventually into the Severn River.
Distance from Toronto: 2 hours
Turtle Lake
Maximum Depth: 14 metres
Turtle Lake is situated in the geographic township of Muskoka, just 10 minutes east of the Town of Gravenhurst.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Riley Lake
Maximum Depth: 13.7 metres
A concrete public boat launch is located off of Riley Lake Road. Major fish species in-clude northern pike, large and smallmouth bass and black crappie. Riley Lake is located 15 minutes from Gravenhurst.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Huntsville
Harp Lake
Maximum Depth: 34 metres
Mean Depth: 12 metres
Harp has a wide range of fish species including white sucker, cisco, pumpkinseed, bur-bot, common shiner, creek chub and mottled sculpin.
Harp lake is just 10 minutes from the famous Deerhurst Resort and 15 minutes from the town of Huntsville.
Distance to Toronto: 2.75 hours
Fairy Lake
Maximum Depth: 69 metres
Mean Depth: 22 metres
Fairy Lake is located right in the heart of Huntsville. With access to many of Hunts-ville’s community events year-round, Fairy Lake is one of the most well-known lakes in the Huntsville area. They also have an active lake association whose mandate is ‘to preserve and protect Fairy Lake and the surrounding areas. We monitor water quality, run a clean-up operation when required, have an open annual meeting and organize activities necessary to safeguard our magical lake’.
Fairy Lake also has an abundance of fish species including lake trout, lake whitefish, cisco, brook trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye.
Distance to Toronto: 2.5 hours
Long’s Lake
Maximum Depth: 9 metres
Mean Depth: 5 metres
Long Lake’s fish species include yellow perch, brook trout and smallmouth bass.
Located just outside of Huntsville in the township of Utterson, Long’s Lake is also often called Utterson Lake.
Distance to Toronto: 2.5 hours
Mary Lake
Maximum Depth: 56 metres
Mean Depth: 25
Mary Lake is known as one of the deepest and cleanest lakes in Muskoka.
Mary Lake’s fish species include lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, burbot and brook trout. Mary Lake is located right in the heart of Port Sydney.
Distance to Toronto: 2.5 hours
Peninsula Lake
Maximum Depth: 37 metres
Mean Depth: 11.7 metres
Penn Lake is home to many types of fish including brook trout, lake trout, cisco, lake whitefish, rainbow smelt, northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. Peninsula, or often shortened to “pen”, is a mid-sized cold-water lake located just east of the Town of Huntsville in the District of Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. Municipal jurisdiction is split between the Town of Huntsville and the Township of Lake of Bays.
Distance to Toronto: 2.5 hours
Lake Vernon
Maximum Depth: 38 metres
Mean Depth: 14 metres
Lake Vernon houses lake trout, walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Lake Vernon is in Huntsville and is one of the biggest lakes in the town.
Distance to Toronto: 2.5 hours
Walker Lake
Maximum Depth: 15 metres
Mean Depth: 5 metres
The major fish species in Walker Lake are rainbow trout, lake trout, brook trout and smallmouth bass.
Walker Lake is located 15 minutes outside of Huntsville.
Distance to Toronto: 2.5 hours
Waseosa Lake
Maximum Depth: 20 metres
Mean Depth: 8 metres
Its major fish species are smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brook trout, rainbow trout, splake and lake trout.
Waseosa Lake is located 15 minutes outside of downtown Huntsville.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Parry Sound/Seguin
Bruce Lake
Maximum Depth: 6 metres
Mean Depth: 3.4 metres
Bruce Lake is just 5 minutes from Minnett.
Bruce Lake is situated in the geographic township of Medora within the Township of Muskoka Lakes. Bruce Lake flows southwest into the Joseph River by way of the Bruce Lake Marsh.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Dyson Lake
Maximum Depth: 17 metres
Mean Depth: 10 metres
Dyson Lake is just 15 minutes to Rosseau. There is some smallmouth bass and a small population of lake trout for fishing. This lake does receive a lot of traffic because of its proximity to Lake Rosseau.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Sucker Lake
Maximum Depth: 17 metres
Mean Depth: 11 metres
Sucker Lake is located just 5 minutes from the town of Rosseau.
Sucker’s major fish species include lake trout, smallmouth bass, burbot, cisco and rainbow smelt.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Three Mile Lake
Maximum Depth: 11 metres
Mean Depth: 3.5 metres
Three Mile Lake is 30 minutes from Huntsville and 30 minutes from Bracebridge.
Like its name suggests, this lake is 3 miles long. Its fish species are walleye, small-mouth bass and largemouth bass.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Crane Lake
Maximum Depth: 32 metres
Mean Depth: 9.2 metres
The fish in Crane Lake include Walleye, Lake Trout, Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie and Northern Pike.
Crane Lake is in central Ontario, Canada approximately 15 kilometres (10 miles) south of the town of Parry Sound just east of Georgian Bay. Crane Lake is the last in a series of lakes that flow down the Blackstone River into Georgian Bay.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Little Whitefish Lake
Maximum Depth: 26 metres
Mean Depth: 9 metres
Little Whitefish Lake is just 15 minutes from Rosseau and is part of a pristine Spring fed 3 lake chain with great swimming, fishing and miles of boating. The fish in Little Whitefish include lake trout, smallmouth bass, lake whitefish and northern pike.
Distance from Toronto: 2 hours
Otter Lake
Maximum Depth: 45 metres
Mean Depth: 11 metres
Otter Lake is a popular lake located just north of Dorset and Lake of Bays of of Route 12. There are numerous cottages around the lake as there is a lot of waterfront that curves and juts out into the lake. There are three service roads that access the north shore of Otter Lake. There is a public boat access and a canoe put-in just off Route 12.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Skeleton Lake
Maximum Depth: 65 metres
Located right between Huntsville and Rosseau, the community on Skeleton Lake is like no other. Skeleton, which exudes the essence of Muskoka greatly, is unique among Ontario Lakes due to its stunning landscapes and crystal-clear water. The lake was formed by an ancient meteor strike and has a rugged natural beauty that you will want to relish in every Summer. The Skeleton Lake Cottagers Organization is dedicated to the conservation of the abundant wildlife characteristic and beauty of Skeleton Lake.
To ensure the preservation and stewardship of Skeleton Lake and its surrounding watershed by ensuring that the Lake maintains all its many unique qualities for generations to come.
Distance from Toronto: 2.75 hours
Star Lake
Maximum Depth: 18.2 metres
Star Lake is located south of Orrville along Star Lake Road in the Parry Sound District. The lake has an irregular shape with several shallow weedy bays providing good cover for bass and pike. Rocky structure including points, rubble shorelines and underwater humps hold many smallmouth bass.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Blackstone Lake
Maximum Depth: 50 metres.
Blackstone Lake is located just 20 minutes from Rosseau. The most abundant fish are smallmouth and largemouth bass. The most sought-after fish are walleye and lake trout and the biggest sport fish in the lake are northern pike and muskellunge.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours
Rankin Lake
Maximum Depth: 20 metres
Mean Depth: 8 metres
Its fish species include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and northern pike.
Rankin is 5 minutes from Parry Sound but also just a 20 minutes from Mactier.
Distance from Toronto: 2.25 hours
Portage Lake
Maximum Depth: 26
Mean Depth: 12.2
Portage Lake’s fish species include lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, tur-bot, northern pike, rainbow smelt, cisco (lake herring) and lake whitefish.
Portage Lake is just minutes from Windermere.
Distance from Toronto: 2.5 hours.
