May Lake Fishing in Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  The Greater Sudbury end of Ontario holds May Lake. The ground around here is rolling bush. The nearest town is Lively, 18 km away. Dowling is 22 km away, with Rayside-Balfour at 27 km. Neighbouring water: St. Pothier Lake (1.7 km), Ethel Lake just 2.4 km, Perch Lake (3.1 km), Mond Lake just 3.7 km and Monk Lake (3.7 km). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on May Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. Public occurrence data for Greater Sudbury names smallmouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Anyone new to May Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -13°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to May Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, St. Pothier Lake is 1.7 km distant. For May Lake in particular, ask before you travel.