The Rideau Chain of Lakes is a series of lakes that are connected from the Rideau Canal. The bass fishing on these lakes is flat out awesome for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The northern pike fishing is very good for numbers as well with some big fish. Panfish such as perch, bluegill, crappie and rock bass are found throughout the area lakes. Walleye and lake trout are here in limited numbers.
Big Rideau Lake
Big Rideau Lake is the deepest lake on this system. Anglers do catch some lake trout and walleye in its deep, clear waters. The fishing is very good for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike and panfish.
Scott’s Island Lakes
Benson, Clear, Indian, Mosquito, Newboro & Loon Lakes
There are six lakes that surround Scott’s Island and they are Benson Lake, Clear Lake, Indian Lake, Mosquito Lake, Newboro Lake and Loon Lake. They all share the same water level and you can travel within these lakes without having to go through one of the locks on the canal. The fishing is very good for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and panfish on these lakes.
Colonel by Lake
River Styx
Cranberry Lake
Cranberry Lake is a good-sized lake at the southern end of the chain. Anglers target bass, northern pike and panfish.
Dog Lake
Dog Lake is a good fishing lake that receives much less fishing pressure than farther north on the Rideau Chain. Anglers do well with bass, northern pike and panfish.
Little Cranberry Lake
Little Cranberry Lake is a smaller lake on the southern part of the chain. There are plenty of good fishing spots on this lake for bass, northern pike and panfish.
Lower Rideau Lake
Lower Rideau Lake is a smaller lake on the north end of the chain. It has several bays and islands that offer good fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike.
Opinicon Lake
Opinicon Lake is a large lake with lots of protected areas that provide excellent fishing for largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass and panfish.
Sand Lake
Sand Lake is a good-sized lake with plenty of bays and shorelines to target largemouth bass and northern pike around the weeds. Offshore, some anglers target walleye and smallmouth bass in deeper water. Even though there are several bays, this lake is pretty wide open and it can get rougher than many of the other lakes on the chain.
Upper Rideau Lake
This lake is a lot smaller and shallower than Big Rideau Lake. Anglers do well with largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish and some smallmouth bass too.
Whitefish Lake
Whitefish Lake is a good-sized lake, but with how narrow it is and all of its bays, it is a good lake to get out of the wind. The protected bays offer excellent fishing for largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish.
