Fishing McRae Lake in Nunavut, Nunavut

• Overview

  The Nunavut end of Nunavut holds McRae Lake. The bank is 199 metres above sea level. It covers about 34.87 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. With about 62 km of shoreline, local advice saves a lot of walking. Baker Lake is the closest town at 170 km. Saskatoon is the closest city, 1344 km away. Other water nearby: Akuttuaq Bay 15 km, Pukiq Lake roughly 34 km, Pamiutuq Lake 44 km and Mallery Lake roughly 59 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on McRae Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. McRae Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 12°C; by January the average is down near -31°C. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid June. Expect the water usable from around mid June until roughly early October. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on McRae Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Akuttuaq Bay, 15 km out. Rules at McRae Lake are worth checking on the day.