Alternative to Walleye Fishing near Belleville?

I always find myself fishing Bay of Quinte Walleyes because it's so close to home and the thing to do on Quinte! I want to mix it up a bit and fish some other lakes for some other species. I just bought some UL gear and I'm hoping someone has a few suggestions for lakes near Belleville, On (up to an hour away). I have plans to fish Stoco Lake in Tweed but I would like to move around a bit this winter, out of my comfort zone. I'm looking for lakes with a bit of presence but not full-on ice villages. I want some people around because they will be a good starting point for me, for unknown waters. I just ordered a panoptix ice combo and can't wait to explore a bit and find some fish this winter!

I also have an ATV and a tracked side by side. Just throwing this out in a few spots to see if anyone has suggestions for me.

I was out on boxing day in Sudbury and did decently. I just finished this video:
https://youtu.be/Dp44sXKXfjk

Wellers Bay??? Never ice fished it, but soft water was productive. Multiable species in there.
-Pidge

As someone that lives on stoco I've never considered it an exceptional lake for anything other than crappie and muskies. There's literally an unknown amount of lakes with little to no pressure within an hour of tweed and the minnow guy in flint is the best operation i've ever seen. If you do go to the land of lakes and harvest fish I personally don't know anyone that went back to eating moira river fish.

In summation spend the extra 20 minutes of travel time and enjoy a productive lake with semi to full seclusion.

I've fished Wellers a couple of times with Fish Finder Charters (Ice Season) and never did spectacularly. I've caught only perch and Walleye and very few Walleye. I have no doubt it turns on there sometimes though.

I'm fishing the black crappie tournament at the end of Jan on Stoco. I camped at Beachwood Hollow Resort this fall and I really liked the area. The lakes you describe are exactly what I'm interested in. I'm just looking for some suggestions as it can be tough in the winter, finding parking, knowing what water is unsafe due to currents, or tough to access, etc.

My ultimate goal is to find a place I can park the truck, take a little ride into the woods with the quad or side by side, get on a lake and catch some fish.... or lake hop! I think it would make an excellent video as well.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I grew up in Campbellford and Rice lake was always a banger for fishing year round, lots of species in there. This was 20 + years ago but I am sure there is still lots of fish.

Madoc Ontario 25 min north of Belleville and 10 min south of hey 7 nice eyes there 6 inches of black ice

Sweet. Is it Moira Lake? I'm a bit concerned about that one because it looks like there could be lots of current? Any tips on where to head onto the ice and where I'd be going? That distance is perfect.

Fyi I drove past stoco on the 27th and not a soul out there . Some open water in the distance . Sled tracks very tight to shore

Thanks for the info. Another week or so I guess. I just bought a Clam 1-man flip over that I'll be using for my light-weight rig. I have a big Rapala 3-man flip over that I can only tow and not drag by hand. Looks like that will see minimal use this year

I haven't driven by moira lake in the winter since last year when I lived in Belleville and would go up 62 to ice fish instead of cut across 7, but anyway moira lake at least for the last decade has been pretty much like potters when I would drive home from other lakes. When your'e making the bend heading north on 62 look to the left if there isn't 50 huts it must not be safe. Some guys at work say they've seen people on it fishing this year but I haven't been at work in a week so don't know.

Did you check cozy cove for huts? I haven't been around the corner because I don't care enough but I'd have to assume that part freezes up before the main stoco does.

I haven't checked Cozy Cove but I was just told it is decent. Apparently someone went through on a side by side today however.

I've never been out that way. Do you know where I would park/launch near Cozy Cove? Hopefully I check it out and there are some people out there. I had a peak at the navionics and it looks like the deep water is south from there but getting close to the river. I guess I will have to explore a bit but I'm definitely not bring my quad out for the first time!

Thanks for the help.

where cozy cove road and sulphide road meet if you satellite map it you can see the boat launch where they made people use that or the beach launch when they were fixing the main launch in the early summer.

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for watching it! I plan on making more of that style, if the ice will cooperate! I'm hoping to make it to the Simcoe derby this year and make a video there as well.