Bernard Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Bernard Lake is one of the Greater Sudbury waters in Ontario. The water sits 335 metres up. The water covers some 14 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline comes to about 1.9 km, small enough to learn in a day. Nearest town is Capreol, 18 km off. Further out sit Valley East (24 km) and Rayside-Balfour (34 km). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Bernard Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, pumpkinseed and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Work Bernard Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 18°C; the cold one sits at -15°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bernard Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Bannagan Lake, 0.6 km away. What applies at Bernard Lake may have changed since it was mapped.