Fishing Siwash Lake in Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Sudbury, Ontario, sits Siwash Lake. The setting is pine and birch. Nearest town is Chapleau, 48 km off. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 261 km away. More in the same country: Mistawak Lake at about 2.9 km, Pie Lake roughly 3.3 km, Loop Lake at about 4.2 km, Ellam Lake roughly 4.6 km and Charlton Lake at about 4.9 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Siwash Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Open biodiversity records for Sudbury list smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Siwash Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 16°C and January near -15°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Siwash Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Mistawak Lake sits 2.9 km off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Siwash Lake if anything is unclear.