Kirby Lake Fishing near Elliot Lake, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Sudbury, Ontario, sits Kirby Lake. This is pine and birch ground. The water covers some 83 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. You are looking at roughly 6.9 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. Nearest town is Elliot Lake, 89 km off. Dowling lies 95 km off, Rayside-Balfour another 102 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Kirby Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Sudbury records list smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Kirby Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 17°C, the coldest about -15°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. At Kirby Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. 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. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Kelso Lake is 4 km distant. Rules at Kirby Lake are worth checking on the day.