Irene Lake Fishing Guide, Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Irene Lake is one of the Sudbury listings for Ontario. The bank is 416 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 95 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The perimeter runs near 8.4 km, so plan the walk before you start. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sudbury list. 75 km away sits Dowling, the nearest town. Rayside-Balfour lies 82 km off, Elliot Lake another 82 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Irene Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Sudbury cover smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Read Irene Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -15°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Irene Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Jasper Lake at 1.4 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Irene Lake before loading the car.