'Lake Chemong', or Chemong Lake, is a
lake 8 km NW of
Peterborough, Ontario near the town of
Bridgenorth. The lake extends from near
Fowlers Corners north to near
Curve Lake. Lake Chemong has a length of 14 km and a width of 1 km.
Communities along and near the lakeshore include
Bridgenorth,
Selwyn on the east, and
Ennismore on the west. There is a
causeway which crosses the lake, connecting Bridgenorth and
Ennismore by road. This causeway is called the James A. Gifford Causeway.
Chemong Lake is part of a tri-lake water system consisting of Chemong Lake, Buckhorn Lake, and Pigeon Lake. The tri-lake area is host to several popular fishing tournaments throughout the open fishing season. The most common game fish in the lake are
smallmouth bass,
largemouth bass,
walleye,
Muskellunge as well as a number of
Panfish. Commercial and recreational
fishing has caused the introduction of
Zebra mussels, which change the ecosystem by filtering the water and making it clearer. Some fish, such as Walleye, dislike the clear water and have become less abundant.
Chemong is also a part of the
Kawartha lakes water system and the
Trent-Severn Waterway.
There are a number of small islands on the lake, including
Big Island. Most of the islands have
cottages or are commonly used as impromptu
campsites.
Although still commonly called 'Chemong Lake', the official spelling has been changed to the more accurate 'Chemung' at the request of members of the local
native community. The name means "Mud Lake", referring to the swampy conditions of the area before it was intentionally flooded during the creation of the
Trent-Severn Waterway.