Phyllis Lake Fishing in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Sudbury, Ontario, is where Phyllis Lake sits. Height above sea level is 445 metres. Compared with other Ontario water on our list, it sits high. For supplies, Chapleau is 13 km out. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 224 km distant. Other water within reach: May Lake (2 km), Earl Lake within 2.6 km, Dace Lake (3 km), Gallagher Lake within 4.3 km and Kilpatrick Lake (4.4 km). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Phyllis Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Sudbury cover smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Phyllis Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 17°C in July and bottoms out near -16°C in January. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan any trip to Phyllis Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is May Lake, 2 km out. The position on Phyllis Lake is worth confirming on the day.