Lower Shakwa Lake Fishing Guide, Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Sudbury, Lower Shakwa Lake is an Ontario water. What surrounds it is mixed forest. With some 52 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 5.6 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. The closest town, Dowling, is 51 km away. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 80 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lower Shakwa Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Lower Shakwa Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -14°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Lower Shakwa Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Shakwa Lake, 2.7 km away. Rules at Lower Shakwa Lake are worth checking on the day.