High · Low
Grind today
reservoir / Drayton, ON / FMZ 16Conestogo Lake
Conestogo Lake is a drowned river valley that forks. Two arms, each about 6 km of flooded Conestogo River channel, meet at the Conestogo Dam — 628 hectares of flood-control reservoir run by the Grand River Conservation Authority.
Target Species
Today's read.
Quick Summary
Cool, with a high of 11° and a low of 1°. Breezy, gusts to 46 km/h. Falling pressure often fires up the bite.
Daily max · 0-11
Avg · NW · gusts to 46 km/h
falling · -5 hPa/24h
10h 20m daylight
Lunar phase
Dry through the launch window
C+
Grind today
Choppy — a 11 km/h average over 5.7 km of fetch keeps you on the southeast shore with short runs. Gusts spike to 46 km/h at times — check the hourly and time your launch. The bite should be firing — a falling barometer often trips a pre-front feed. Fish the southeast shore where wind stacks bait and keep it tight to cover.
Craft Verdicts
Trailer launchCarry-in launch5.7 km max fetchPressure falling (-5.4 hPa/24h)
Powerboat
Clear to launch — a 11 km/h NW average over 5.7 km of fetch stays well within a powerboat's weight and power; easy to hold position. Gusts spike to 46 km/h at times — time your launch.
Kayak
Launchable but exposed — a 26 km/h average gust and 5.7 km of fetch will test a kayak's low, wind-caught profile; put in on the southeast shore and stay tight to it. Gusts spike to 46 km/h at times — time your launch.
Canoe
Too rough — a 26 km/h average gust over 5.7 km of fetch overwhelms an open canoe's shallow draft; not a safe launch today. Gusts spike to 46 km/h at times — time your launch.
Hourly Conditions
5:00 a.m.
5°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW11kph
Gust11kph
Launch ReadCaution
7:00 a.m.
4°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW10kph
Gust10kph
Launch ReadFishable
9:00 a.m.
6°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW9kph
Gust19kph
Launch ReadFishable
11:00 a.m.
8°Temp
UV1
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW12kph
Gust37kph
Launch ReadCaution
1:00 p.m.
9°Temp
UV2
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · NW13kph
Gust45kph
Launch ReadDo Not Launch
Windy!3:00 p.m.
11°Temp
UV3
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · NW14kph
Gust41kph
Launch ReadDo Not Launch
Windy!5:00 p.m.
10°Temp
UV1
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW13kph
Gust34kph
Launch ReadCaution
7:00 p.m.
7°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW11kph
Gust23kph
Launch ReadCaution
9:00 p.m.
4°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW7kph
Gust7kph
Launch ReadFishable
Weekly Outlook
LaunchCaution
BiteMaximum
LaunchAll Clear
BiteFair
LaunchFishable
BiteFair
LaunchFishable
BiteHigh
LaunchCaution
BiteMaximum
LaunchCaution
BiteMaximum
LaunchCaution
BiteMaximum
01
How it fishes
Y-shaped impoundment with two arms each about 6 km long, 628 ha, formed by the Conestogo Dam (built 1955–1958, first flooded October 1958); the flooding submerged the former village of Hollen.
SourceWalleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass are the three most-observed and most-caught species across angler-observation platforms.
SourceCold-water release from depth at the dam supports a stocked brown-trout tailwater in the Conestogo River below the dam — a distinct fishery from the lake.
SourceNo recreational stocking record exists for the reservoir in the Fish ON-Line FMZ 16 dataset; its walleye, pike, bass, and crappie appear self-sustaining.
Source02
Regulations snapshot
This is a summary, not the legal regulation — confirm current rules with the official source before fishing.
Walleye
Season: Jan 1–Mar 15 and second Saturday in May to Dec 31 (2026: May 9–Dec 31)
Limit: S-4 / C-2, not more than 1 over 46 cm (18") (combined with Sauger)
Size: not more than 1 over 46 cm (18")
Official sourceNorthern Pike
Season: Jan 1–Mar 31 and second Saturday in May to Dec 31 (2026: May 9–Dec 31)
Limit: S-6 / C-2
Size: no size limit
Official sourceSmallmouth Bass
Season: fourth Saturday in June to Nov 30 (2026: Jun 27–Nov 30)
Limit: S-6 / C-2 (combined with Largemouth)
Official source03
Access notes
Conestogo Lake Conservation Area
6580 Wellington County Road 11, Wallenstein
Concrete double-lane boat launch (two ramps, motorized); powerboats/waterskiing permitted. Boat launch $14.50/day or $117.00 season pass; valid boating and driver's licence required. Fluctuating reservoir levels can affect launch access during dam drawdowns.
Access sourceConestogo Lake Conservation Area
carry-in / non-motorized access
Multiple shoreline entry points for canoe/kayak/SUP.
Access source04