Balsam Lake
Balsam Lake is an Ontario fishing location near Central Ontario, Ontario, targeted for Walleye, Muskie, Smallmouth Bass. It sits in FMZ 17 (Kawartha Lakes & Trent watershed).
Fishing Quick Facts
- Location
- Balsam Lake
- Water type
- Lake
- Region
- Central Ontario
- Fishing Management Zone
- FMZ 17 — Kawartha Lakes & Trent watershed
- Latitude
- 44.58330
- Longitude
- -78.83330
- Primary species
- Walleye, Muskie, Smallmouth Bass
- Other species
- Lake Trout
- Shore fishing
- Unknown
- Boat fishing
- Unknown
- Kayak / canoe
- Unknown
- Boat launch
- Unknown
- Ice fishing
- Unknown
- Parking
- Unknown
- Average depth
- 16 ft
- Maximum depth
- 59 ft
- Fishing regulations
- Ontario fishing rules and licences
- Official zone regulations
- Ontario MNRF FMZ 17 summary
- Live conditions
- Live Ontario fishing conditions and reports
About this water
Highest lake on the Trent-Severn; one of few Kawartha lakes with a native lake trout population.
FMZ 17 regulations — Kawartha Lakes & Trent watershed
The smallest FMZ, in southern Ontario. It includes the Kawartha Lakes, the Trent and Crowe River watersheds, and the eastern rivers and streams of the Oak Ridges Moraine. It is bordered by Lake Ontario to the south (FMZ 20).
- Walleye: 3rd Sat in May – Dec 15; S-4/C-2 with slot on many lakes.
- Muskie: fourth Saturday in June – Dec 15; 137 cm min, S-1/C-0.
- Largemouth / smallmouth bass: 4th Sat in June – Nov 30; S-4/C-2.
Zone check: FMZ 17 confirmed from this water's coordinates against the official Ontario zone boundaries (reviewed 2026-08-12).
Summary only — always confirm current seasons and limits on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 17 page before your trip.
Seasonal availability
Open-season windows for the species found at Balsam Lake, taken from the FMZ 17 regulation summary. Green months are within a published open season — they are not a prediction of how well fish will bite.
- S-4/C-2 with slot on many lakes.
No FMZ 17 season line published in our summary for: Lake Trout. Check the official page before keeping these species.
Summary only, and seasons change annually. Confirm dates on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 17 page before your trip.
Fishing tips
- Muskie love the Trent's weed edges and lock approaches.
Solunar Calendar— Balsam Lake
Waning Crescent
20% illuminated · Age 25.2d
🌘 Mon, Sep 7
20% · Rating 82🌘 Tue, Sep 8
12% · Rating 89🌘 Wed, Sep 9
6% · Rating 95Major windows (~2 h) cluster around moon transit and antitransit; minor windows (~1 h) around moonrise and moonset. Local approximations — verify against a printed almanac for planning.
Related fishing information
- How FMZ 17 works and which Ontario waters it covers
- Learn more about fishing for Walleye in Ontario
- Learn more about fishing for Muskie in Ontario
- Learn more about fishing for Smallmouth Bass in Ontario
- Learn more about fishing for Lake Trout in Ontario
- Ontario fishing seasons, limits and licence rules
- Check live conditions before fishing Balsam Lake
- Fishing near Central Ontario: Balsam Lake Provincial Park
- Fishing near Central Ontario: Cameron Lake – Fenelon Falls
- Fishing near Central Ontario: Fenelon Falls – Lock 34 Shore Access
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