Stony Lake – Burleigh Falls

About this water

One of the Kawarthas' signature lakes — rocky Shield structure, hundreds of islands, and a muskie fishery that draws anglers from across Ontario.

Large 32 km² island-studded lake on the edge of the Canadian Shield. Clear water with abundant shoals and sharp drop-offs. FMZ 17.

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). The FMZ 15 boundary is only 0.95 km away, so confirm which zone your launch falls in.

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 Stony Lake – Burleigh Falls, 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.

Summary only, and seasons change annually. Confirm dates on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 17 page before your trip.

Fishing tips

• Kawarthas are shallow and weed-heavy — punch mats for summer largemouth.
• Muskie love the Trent's weed edges and lock approaches.
• Work the shoal edges between islands — the transition from rock to deep water holds smallmouth all summer and muskie in the fall.
• Access: Free lots at both public launches. Confirm seasonal access with North Kawartha Township before heading out.

Gear setup

Setup:

Medium-heavy casting for muskie; medium spinning for bass

Rod:

8' heavy casting rod (muskie) / 7' medium spinning (bass)

Reel:

Size 300 baitcaster / size 2500 spinning

Line:

65 lb braid with 100 lb fluorocarbon leader (muskie); 10 lb braid (bass)

Best bait:

Large suckers, Minnows, Crayfish

Best lures:

Bucktails, Glide baits, Tube jigs, Drop-shot worms