Fishing at Shack Lake, Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Shack Lake lies in Sudbury, in Ontario. It stands 389 metres above sea level. Around 35 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. A shoreline of some 4.0 km keeps the choices simple. Capreol sits 62 km from here and is the nearest stop. Rayside-Balfour follows at 64 km, then Valley East at 65 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Shack Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Sudbury names smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read Shack Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 17°C at the top of summer and -16°C at the bottom of winter. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Shack Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Oshawong Lake, 2.3 km away. Rules at Shack Lake are worth checking on the day.