Fishing at Blackwater Lake, Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Blackwater Lake belongs to Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Height above sea level is 323 metres. Roughly 31 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Around 5.0 km of margin, front to back. 34 km away sits Capreol, the nearest town. Valley East is 43 km away, with Rayside-Balfour at 56 km. Water in the same corner: Rat Lake just 1.6 km, White Rock Lake at 2.7 km, Davis Lake just 2.8 km, Camp Seven Lake at 2.8 km and Camp One Lake just 2.9 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Blackwater Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Greater Sudbury include smallmouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Blackwater Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -15°C to 18°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Blackwater Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything 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. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Rat Lake is 1.6 km distant. Rules at Blackwater Lake are worth checking on the day.