Fishing Santimaw Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Santimaw Lake lies within the bounds of Sudbury, Ontario. The country round it is boreal forest from end to end. It measures about 17 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 2.4 km, small enough to learn in a day. Supplies mean a trip to Chapleau, 54 km off. Timmins is 129 km away, with Elliot Lake at 151 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Santimaw Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for 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. Read Santimaw Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 17°C; by January the average is down near -16°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Santimaw Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. 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. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Mink Lake, 2 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Santimaw Lake.