Ethel Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Ethel Lake lies within the bounds of Greater Sudbury, Ontario. It lies 271 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 35 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Roughly 3.9 km of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. You are 17 km from Lively. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 31 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Ethel Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Greater Sudbury names smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, pumpkinseed and rock bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Ethel Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -13°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Ethel Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Mond Lake is 1.5 km distant. For Ethel Lake in particular, ask before you travel.