Fishing Palomar Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  This water sits in Sudbury, Ontario. The bank is 345 metres above sea level. Around 56 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. A shoreline of some 4.2 km keeps the choices simple. For supplies, Timmins is 77 km out. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 209 km away. What else is close: Ivy Lake after 3.4 km, Keith Lake 3.9 km away, White Duck Lake after 4.8 km, Beaverflood Lake 5.1 km away and Blackbill Lake after 5.7 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Palomar Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. County-wide records name smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Palomar Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 17°C in July and bottoms out near -17°C in January. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Palomar Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Ivy Lake, 3.4 km out. Where Palomar Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.