Arva Lake in Sudbury: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Sudbury, Ontario. The ground round it is taiga. The water measures roughly 9 hectares, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Sudbury. Chapleau is the closest town at 42 km. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 269 km away. Water in the same corner: 1.9 km away is Slim Lake, Bacon Lake (3.1 km), 4.6 km away is String Lake, Peavey Lake (4.7 km) and 5.1 km away is Chokio Lake. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Arva Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Arva Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 16°C, the coldest about -15°C. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Arva Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Slim Lake, 1.9 km away. For Arva Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.