Raft Lake Fishing near Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Raft Lake belongs to Greater Sudbury. The water sits 234 metres up. Roughly 1.28 sq km of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. There is roughly 11 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. It is among the larger waters listed here for Greater Sudbury. The closest town, Greater Sudbury, is 9.6 km distant. Lively is 16 km away, with Azilda at 20 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Raft Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Greater Sudbury names smallmouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Raft Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -13°C and July at about 19°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Anyone fishing Raft Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, McFarlane Lake at 1.1 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Raft Lake before loading the car.