McKay Lake Fishing in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador

• Overview

  Out in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, sits McKay Lake. It sits in spruce and muskeg country. This is big water, about 33.85 sq km, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. There is roughly 67 km of bank, and each arm behaves like its own water. Size puts it in the front rank of our Labrador City list. For supplies, Labrador City is 123 km out. After that come Wabush at 124 km and Fermont at 143 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on McKay Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name brook trout, northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Treat McKay Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 12°C and January at -23°C. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Look for the thaw near late May; the fishing lifts straight after. Expect the water usable from around late May until roughly late October. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at McKay Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Colville River at 6.7 km is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for McKay Lake.