Fishing Ritchie Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Within Sudbury, Ontario, you have Ritchie Lake. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. It runs to roughly 82 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The outline measures near 10 km, so local knowledge counts. It sits higher than most water we list in Ontario. Nearest place of any size is Elliot Lake, 50 km away. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 104 km distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Ritchie Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Ritchie Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -14°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Time your trip to Ritchie Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Little Beaver Lake sits 1.2 km off and takes the overflow. Treat Ritchie Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.