Little Craig Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Little Craig Lake belongs to Sudbury, Ontario. It sits at 422 metres above sea level. About 9 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Sudbury are larger. The nearest place of any size is Dowling, 38 km away. Rayside-Balfour follows at 46 km, then Espanola at 52 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Little Craig Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Little Craig Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -14°C to 18°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. At Little Craig Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Spanish River Provincial Park takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Duck Lake, 3.3 km away, makes the obvious fallback. For Little Craig Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.