Fishing Samson Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Samson Lake lies within the bounds of Sudbury, Ontario. The surface lies 357 metres up. Surface area is around 17 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. There is roughly 2.0 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Nearest place of any size is Capreol, 55 km away. It is 80 km to Greater Sudbury, the nearest city. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Samson Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Sudbury, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Samson Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 17°C for July and -16°C for January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Samson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The water borders Solace Provincial Park, so expect the reserve rules to apply. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Bill Lake, 0.6 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Samson Lake before loading the car.