Fishing at A.Y. Jackson Lake, Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  A.Y. Jackson Lake lies in Sudbury, Ontario. The ground around here is pine and birch. At roughly 6 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Sudbury standards. For supplies, Espanola is 38 km out. Then Little Current, 41 km, and Lively, 49 km. Water in the same corner: George Lake within 0.5 km, Little Sheguiandah Lake just 0.6 km, Teardrop Lake within 2.6 km, Lumsden Lake just 2.7 km and Freeland Lake within 3.1 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on A.Y. Jackson Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Sudbury list smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Work A.Y. Jackson Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -10°C and July at about 19°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to A.Y. Jackson Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Parking is not close: 650 m from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Public data records a pier about 1 km out. Overnight stays are possible 270 m away. Picnic facilities are recorded some 1.2 km out. Facilities run to toilets 330 m from the water. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. George Lake sits 0.5 km off and takes the overflow. Where A.Y. Jackson Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.