Fishing Hock Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Hock Lake is listed under Sudbury, Ontario. Beyond the shoreline you have lake country bush. The water covers around 1.44 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Around 17 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. Few waters listed in Sudbury are bigger. For supplies, Espanola is 18 km out. Lively lies 35 km off, Dowling another 39 km. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Hock Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Hock Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 19°C on average, January about -12°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Hock Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Star Lake, 2 km away. Rules at Hock Lake are worth checking on the day.