Fishing Sunderland Lake in Algoma, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Sunderland Lake belongs to Algoma. The surface lies 363 metres up. Around 75 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. Some 7.7 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Hornepayne at 40 km is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Thunder Bay is 302 km off. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Sunderland Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Algoma include walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Sunderland Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 16°C at the top of summer and -18°C at the bottom of winter. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Open water usually runs from early May until about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Sunderland Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Granitehill Lake, 6.6 km out. Check the position on Sunderland Lake before loading the car.