Fishing at Swayze Lake, Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Sudbury, Ontario, sits Swayze Lake. The bank gives way to northern bush. At about 90 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. There is roughly 9.3 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Chapleau is the closest place, 51 km off. Then Timmins, 125 km, and Wawa, 154 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Swayze Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Sudbury, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, Iowa darter and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Swayze Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -16°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about mid November in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Swayze Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. 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. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Topboot Lake at 2.4 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Swayze Lake before loading the car.