McLander Lake Fishing in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  McLander Lake sits in Sudbury, out in Ontario. Beyond the shoreline you have lake country bush. Around 69 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. Around 7.3 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. For supplies, Espanola is 22 km out. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 70 km distant. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on McLander Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Sudbury list smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Work McLander Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -13°C in January up to 18°C in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to McLander Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Coreaux Lake, 1.4 km away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on McLander Lake is worth confirming on the day.