Delmage Lake in Sudbury: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Delmage Lake is set in Sudbury, Ontario. Height above sea level is 418 metres. The water covers around 1.80 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The bank runs about 27 km in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Few waters listed in Sudbury are bigger. Supplies mean a trip to Chapleau, 42 km off. Further out sit Wawa (70 km) and Hornepayne (144 km). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Delmage Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Sudbury records list smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye among the fish reported. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The near bank of Delmage Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 16°C and January near -16°C. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. 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. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan around that when you fish Delmage Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Madge Lake is 0.7 km off. Confirm access to Delmage Lake locally before you travel.