Fishing at Sharkey's Lake, Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  The Sudbury entry here is Sharkey's Lake, in Ontario. The bank gives way to mixed forest. It covers about 7 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Sudbury standards. The nearest place of any size is Markstay-Warren, 26 km away. Further out sit Greater Sudbury (27 km) and Lively (34 km). A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Sharkey's Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Sudbury: smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Sharkey's Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 19°C, while January sits near -12°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. From about late April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Time your trip to Sharkey's Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Doyle Lake at 2.8 km is the nearest alternative. Treat Sharkey's Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.