Gourlay Lake Fishing in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Gourlay Lake in the Sudbury part of Ontario. It stands 397 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 12 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Most waters listed here for Sudbury are larger. Nearest town is Capreol, 44 km off. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 68 km distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Gourlay Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Sudbury, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Gourlay Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 18°C on average, January about -16°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Gourlay Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Sandspit Lake, 1.1 km out. Nothing on Gourlay Lake should be assumed from this page alone.