Otter Lake Fishing in Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Otter Lake sits within Greater Sudbury in Ontario. Everything around it is lake country bush. The town to know is Dowling, 16 km out. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 44 km away. Round about: Mountain Lake within 1.1 km, Lost Lake at 1.4 km, Sawmill Lake within 2.7 km, Pistol Lake at 3 km and Ministic Lake within 3 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Otter Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Greater Sudbury, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Otter Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 18°C and January about -14°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Otter Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A boat ramp sits 920 m away, so trailered boats can get on. The nearest mapped parking is 890 m away, so the last stretch is on foot. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Mountain Lake, 1.1 km away. The position on Otter Lake is worth confirming on the day.