Fishing Hogsback Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Hogsback Lake sits in Sudbury, out in Ontario. The surroundings are northern bush. Roughly 26 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 3.7 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Some 84 km away sits Timmins, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Chapleau (89 km) and Kapuskasing (122 km). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Hogsback Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Hogsback Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 17°C in July and bottom out at -17°C in January. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan around that when you fish Hogsback Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Biting Lake, 2.2 km away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Hogsback Lake is worth confirming on the day.