Paul Lake Fishing in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Ontario holds Paul Lake, in Sudbury. The ground round it is northern bush. At about 15 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The bank runs about 2.4 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Sudbury are larger. Chapleau sits 30 km from the bank. After that come Wawa at 133 km and Timmins at 140 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Paul Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Paul Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 17°C on average, January about -16°C. Winter runs most of the calendar, and everything worth doing happens in the gap. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. The season on Paul Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Wright Lake, 1.3 km out. Confirm access to Paul Lake locally before you travel.