Little Dunbar Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Sudbury, Little Dunbar Lake is an Ontario water. It stands 404 metres above sea level. It measures about 71 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 8.9 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Dowling is the closest town at 52 km. Beyond it, Rayside-Balfour at 53 km and Capreol at 56 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Little Dunbar Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Sudbury cover smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. On Little Dunbar Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -15°C in January up to 17°C in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Little Dunbar Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Little Friday Lake, 2.4 km away. None of that is settled for Little Dunbar Lake in what we hold.