Winnie Lake in Sudbury: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Sudbury, Ontario, you have Winnie Lake. It stands 422 metres above sea level. The water covers around 1.40 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. At about 8.6 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. On our Sudbury list it sits near the top for size. Nearest town is Dowling, 76 km off. For a city, Greater Sudbury is 104 km off. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Winnie Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Sudbury, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Winnie Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 17°C; by January the average is down near -15°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Winnie Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Corvec Lake at 1.2 km is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Winnie Lake locally before you travel.