Fishing Whitefish Lake in Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Overview

  Whitefish Lake lies within the bounds of Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. Roughly 3.81 sq km of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The outline measures near 13 km, so local knowledge counts. Few waters listed in Greater Sudbury are bigger. For supplies, Lively is 6.6 km out. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 20 km away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Whitefish Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Greater Sudbury names smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Whitefish Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -12°C and July at about 19°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Whitefish Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Simon Lake at 1.7 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Whitefish Lake before loading the car.