Fishing at Cranberry Lake, Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Cranberry Lake sits within Greater Sudbury in Ontario. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. The water covers around 1.34 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. With 6.1 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. On our Greater Sudbury list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Lively, 16 km out. Greater Sudbury is 28 km away, with Azilda at 30 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Greater Sudbury include smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, pumpkinseed and rock bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The shape of Cranberry Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 19°C and January about -12°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That shapes the year on Cranberry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Little Trout Lake at 3.6 km is the nearest alternative. For Cranberry Lake in particular, ask before you travel.