Fishing Mills Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  The Sudbury entry here is Mills Lake, in Ontario. The ground around here is northern bush. At about 35 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. A shoreline of some 4.4 km keeps the choices simple. Supplies mean a trip to Chapleau, 69 km off. Timmins lies 102 km off, Smooth Rock Falls another 157 km. If this one is busy: Longcome Lake 0.5 km, Whigham Lake some 1.9 km off, Harry Lake 1.9 km, Gravelridge Lake some 2 km off and Marl Lake 2.6 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Mills Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Sudbury: smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Mills Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 17°C, the coldest about -17°C. Little of the calendar is open water, so timing counts for everything. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mills Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Longcome Lake, 0.5 km away. Rules at Mills Lake are worth checking on the day.