Retort Lake in Sudbury: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Retort Lake lies in Sudbury, in Ontario. Elevation runs to 408 metres. Small at around 9 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Sudbury standards. The nearest town is Dowling, 32 km away. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 59 km distant. Close by you also have: Munster Lake just 3.3 km, Ulster Lake 4.3 km away, Lower Onaping Lake just 5.3 km, Sideburn Lake 5.6 km away and Smoke Lake just 5.7 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Retort Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Sudbury: smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Retort Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -14°C in January to roughly 18°C in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Retort Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Munster Lake is 3.3 km off. Check the position on Retort Lake before loading the car.