Camp Lake in Greater Sudbury: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ontario holds Camp Lake, in Greater Sudbury. Around the bank it is pine and birch. It measures about 20 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The bank runs about 2.9 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Greater Sudbury lies 12 km from the water. Greater Sudbury sits 12 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Camp Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Open biodiversity records for Greater Sudbury list smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Camp Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -13°C in January up to 19°C in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Camp Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Forest Lake, 1.2 km away. Rules at Camp Lake are worth checking on the day.