Neilly Lake in Sudbury: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Neilly Lake stands in Sudbury, Ontario. This is pine and birch ground. With some 20 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It lies lower than most water we list in Ontario. Nearest town is Greater Sudbury, 30 km off. It is 30 km to Greater Sudbury, the nearest city. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Neilly Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Public occurrence data for Sudbury names smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Neilly Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 19°C; the cold one sits at -12°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. From about late April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Neilly Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Sawmill Lake is 0.7 km distant. Treat Neilly Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.