Ponoka Lake Fishing near Chapleau, Ontario

• Overview

  Ponoka Lake lies in Sudbury, Ontario. The water sits 454 metres up. With some 20 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With about 3.0 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Compared with other Ontario water on our list, it sits high. Head to Chapleau, 10 km away, for anything you forgot. Further out sit Wawa (93 km) and Sault Ste. Marie (161 km). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Ponoka Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Ponoka Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -16°C to 16°C. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Time your trip to Ponoka Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Wangoon Lake at 3.2 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Ponoka Lake before loading the car.