Sinclair Lake Fishing Guide, Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Sinclair Lake falls in Sudbury, part of Ontario. This is mixed forest ground. About 9.30 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. Some 49 km of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sudbury list. The closest town, Timmins, is 68 km distant. Further out sit Kirkland Lake (102 km) and Englehart (110 km). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Sinclair Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Sinclair Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 17°C and January reads -17°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Sinclair Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Gelinas Lake is 3.4 km distant. For Sinclair Lake in particular, ask before you travel.