Fishing Hemlock Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  The Sudbury entry here is Hemlock Lake, in Ontario. Height above sea level is 232 metres. At 3 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Sudbury list. For supplies, Lively is 40 km out. Then Espanola, 42 km, and Greater Sudbury, 50 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Hemlock Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Sudbury names smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of Hemlock Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 19°C and January near -11°C on the long-run figures. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hemlock Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. A campsite is mapped about 750 m away, which makes an early start easier. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Whiskeyjack Lake at 0.5 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Hemlock Lake carry more weight than any list.