Fishing Duchabani Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  This water sits in Sudbury, Ontario. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. This is sizeable water at about 2.57 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. With 13 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. It is among the larger waters listed here for Sudbury. The nearest place of any size is Capreol, 91 km away. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 110 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Duchabani Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for Sudbury names smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Duchabani Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 17°C in July and bottoms out near -16°C in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Duchabani Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Cullen Lake at 2.4 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Duchabani Lake before loading the car.