Hodgson Lake Fishing Guide, Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Hodgson Lake is a Sudbury water, in Ontario. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. It runs to roughly 62 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Around 7.2 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. For a base, Chapleau sits 80 km out. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 241 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Hodgson Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Hodgson Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -14°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That shapes the year on Hodgson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. 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. Failing this one, try Dixon Lake, 1.6 km away. Check the position on Hodgson Lake before loading the car.