Fishing South Bay in Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, sits South Bay. The setting is rolling bush on every side. Greater Sudbury lies 4.5 km from the water. Azilda is 15 km away, with Lively at 16 km. Close by you also have: Bethel Lake (1.5 km), Bennett Lake near enough 2 km, Perch Lake (2.1 km), Ramsey Lake near enough 2.2 km and Minnow Lake (3.4 km). No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on South Bay

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Flats either side fish on the drop as bait is pushed off them. Oyster and old piling give the only hard structure in sight. Reported across Greater Sudbury: smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, pumpkinseed and rock bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On South Bay the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -13°C and July at about 20°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. South Bay fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. You will be walking about 870 m from the nearest car park. There are picnic tables 810 m away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Bethel Lake, 1.5 km away. For South Bay in particular, ask before you travel.