Fishing Waddell Lake in Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Waddell Lake belongs to Greater Sudbury. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. The water covers some 62 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The shoreline runs about 10 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Nearest place of any size is Capreol, 5.2 km away. Beyond it, Valley East at 14 km and Azilda at 27 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Waddell Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Greater Sudbury cover smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Waddell Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -14°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Time your trip to Waddell Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Eatlots Lake, 0.9 km out. The position on Waddell Lake is worth confirming on the day.