Roswell Lake near Chapleau: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Sudbury, Roswell Lake is an Ontario water. Around the bank it is boreal forest. This is sizeable water at about 1.38 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The perimeter runs near 9.7 km, so plan the walk before you start. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sudbury list. Chapleau sits 27 km from the bank. Wawa lies 129 km off, Timmins another 142 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Roswell Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Sudbury include smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Roswell Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 17°C and January near -16°C on the long-run figures. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on Roswell Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Dempster Lake at 1.9 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Roswell Lake.