Fishing at Crooked Lake, Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Crooked Lake lies in Sudbury, in Ontario. The bank gives way to northern bush. About 1.12 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. You have roughly 28 km of edge to choose from, which rewards a scouting trip. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sudbury list. Nearest place of any size is Chapleau, 64 km away. It is 297 km to Greater Sudbury, the nearest city. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Crooked Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Sudbury cover smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Crooked Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 16°C on average, January about -16°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan around that when you fish Crooked Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A campsite lies 710 m away for anyone staying over. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Missibay Lake, 1.7 km away. Treat Crooked Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.