Fishing Richardson Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Richardson Lake sits in Sudbury, out in Ontario. It sits at 405 metres above sea level. At some 1.23 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The edge covers about 11 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. It ranks high for size among our Sudbury listings. The town to know is Dowling, 38 km out. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 57 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Richardson Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Sudbury: smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Read Richardson Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -15°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Richardson Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Rhodes Lake, 4.1 km out. Nothing on Richardson Lake should be assumed from this page alone.