Sullivan Lake in Rainy River District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Sullivan Lake in the Rainy River District part of Ontario. Height above sea level is 367 metres. Some 28 km of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. On our Rainy River District list it sits near the top for size. Nearest place of any size is Fort Frances, 62 km away. The nearest city of size is Winnipeg, 280 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Sullivan Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Rainy River District cover northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Sullivan Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 19°C and January at -17°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. At Sullivan Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Crossroute Lake, 2.9 km away. For Sullivan Lake in particular, ask before you travel.