Bassoon Lake near Espanola: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Bassoon Lake is set in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. It sits at 234 metres above sea level. At some 1.34 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Shoreline length is close to 10 km, and each section fishes a little differently. On our Greater Sudbury list it sits near the top for size. Supplies mean a trip to Espanola, 29 km off. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 44 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bassoon Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. County-wide records name smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, pumpkinseed and rock bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Bassoon Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 19°C and January about -11°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Bassoon Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. High Lake sits 1.1 km off and takes the overflow. Where Bassoon Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.