High · Low
Grind today
reservoir / Orangeville, ON / FMZ 16Island Lake
Island Lake isn't so much a lake as a drowned cedar swamp with two dams holding it in place. Orangeville built it in 1967 to keep the Credit River flowing through dry spells, flooding a swamp, a thicket and a small kettle lake at the river's headwaters — and the fishery grew up around all that submerged wood.
Target Species
Today's read.
Quick Summary
Cool, with a high of 11° and a low of 2°. Breezy, gusts to 45 km/h. Falling pressure often fires up the bite.
Daily max · 0-11
Avg · NW · gusts to 45 km/h
falling · -6 hPa/24h
10h 19m daylight
Lunar phase
Peak 0.1 mm/h · 0 wet hrs
C+
Grind today
Choppy — a 12 km/h average over 2.7 km of fetch keeps you on the southeast shore with short runs. Gusts spike to 45 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 launch2.7 km max fetchPressure falling (-6.2 hPa/24h)
Powerboat
Clear to launch — a 12 km/h NW average over 2.7 km of fetch stays well within a powerboat's weight and power; easy to hold position. Gusts spike to 45 km/h at times — time your launch.
Kayak
Launchable but exposed — a 30 km/h average gust and 2.7 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 45 km/h at times — time your launch.
Canoe
Too rough — a 30 km/h average gust over 2.7 km of fetch overwhelms an open canoe's shallow draft; not a safe launch today. Gusts spike to 45 km/h at times — time your launch.
Hourly Conditions
5:00 a.m.
6°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW10kph
Gust24kph
Launch ReadCaution
7:00 a.m.
6°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW10kph
Gust27kph
Launch ReadCaution
9:00 a.m.
7°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW10kph
Gust26kph
Launch ReadCaution
11:00 a.m.
7°Temp
UV1
Precip0.1mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW11kph
Gust30kph
Launch ReadCaution
1:00 p.m.
9°Temp
UV3
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · NW14kph
Gust43kph
Launch ReadDo Not Launch
Windy!3:00 p.m.
11°Temp
UV3
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · NW15kph
Gust43kph
Launch ReadDo Not Launch
Windy!5:00 p.m.
10°Temp
UV1
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW14kph
Gust37kph
Launch ReadCaution
7:00 p.m.
7°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW11kph
Gust24kph
Launch ReadCaution
9:00 p.m.
5°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureFalling
Fish ActivityMaximum
Wind · NW9kph
Gust9kph
Launch ReadFishable
Weekly Outlook
LaunchCaution
BiteMaximum
LaunchAll Clear
BiteFair
LaunchFishable
BiteFair
LaunchAll Clear
BiteHigh
LaunchFishable
BiteMaximum
LaunchFishable
BiteMaximum
LaunchFishable
BiteMaximum
01
How it fishes
Man-made reservoir created in 1967 by two dams that flooded a cedar swamp, thicket and small kettle lake at the headwaters of the Credit River, to augment river low flows.
SourceShallow throughout — much of the lake is about six feet deep, with one deeper hole reaching roughly 20–22 feet in the eastern arm over the original kettle lake.
SourceThe east end holds extensive submerged and standing timber — fallen trees, logs and stumps — that shelters every species, alongside heavy weed growth through the shallows.
SourceNorthern Pike is the most angler-observed species on the reservoir (15 confirmations on Anglers Atlas, ahead of largemouth bass and yellow perch).
SourceHosts the annual Island Lake Ice Derby, with cash-prize categories for northern pike (2026 winning fish 825 mm), black crappie and yellow perch, plus a youth catfish category.
SourceNo provincial stocking record exists for the reservoir — its pike, largemouth and panfish are a self-sustaining, naturalized fishery.
Source02
Regulations snapshot
This is a summary, not the legal regulation — confirm current rules with the official source before fishing.
Northern Pike
Season: January 1 to March 31 and second Saturday in May to December 31
Limit: S-6 / C-2
Size: no size limit
Official sourceLargemouth & Smallmouth Bass (Combined)
Season: fourth Saturday in June to November 30
Limit: S-6 / C-2 (combined with Smallmouth Bass)
Size: no size limit
Official sourceBlack Crappie
Season: open all year
Limit: S-30 / C-10
Official source03
Access notes
Island Lake Conservation Area boat launch
parking lot P1
Concrete surface and dock; $8 + HST (free with a Credit Valley Parks Pass). Gas-powered motors are not permitted on Island Lake (paddle or electric only). Fishing is by boat access only during park hours.
Access sourceIsland Lake Conservation Area walk-in / hand launch
parking lot P1
Free hand launch for canoes, kayaks and other hand-carried watercraft; paddlecraft and fishing-kayak rentals available seasonally.
Access source04
Key resources
The actual regs, straight from the source — FMZ 16, Government of OntarioSpecies, piers, ice-fishing rules and bait — Island Lake, Credit Valley ConservationLaunch, motor rules and paddlecraft rentals — CVC canoeing, kayaking and boatingIsland Lake Ice Derby details — Credit Valley Conservation FoundationStocking record, FMZ 16 — Ontario Fish ON-Line