Fishing Pothole Lake in Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Pothole Lake stands in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Elevation runs to 309 metres. At 5 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Greater Sudbury list. The closest town, Capreol, is 20 km away. Greater Sudbury sits 45 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Pothole Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Greater Sudbury: smallmouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Pothole Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 18°C and January near -15°C on the long-run figures. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan around that when you fish Pothole Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Parkin Lake sits 1.6 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Pothole Lake before loading the car.