Keelow Lake Fishing in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Keelow Lake lies within the bounds of Sudbury, Ontario. The bank is 430 metres above sea level. With some 70 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The perimeter runs near 8.3 km, so plan the walk before you start. Chapleau lies 57 km from the water. Wawa follows at 88 km, then Sault Ste. Marie at 109 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Keelow 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. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for Sudbury names smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Keelow Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 17°C and January at -14°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Keelow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Teal Lake is 0.9 km off. Rules at Keelow Lake are worth checking on the day.