Little Macutagon Lake near Manitouwadge: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Thunder Bay District entry here is Little Macutagon Lake, in Ontario. It lies 359 metres above sea level. Roughly 57 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The outline measures near 7.7 km, so local knowledge counts. Supplies mean a trip to Manitouwadge, 22 km off. Hornepayne is 58 km away, with Longlac at 107 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Little Macutagon Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Little Macutagon Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 16°C in July and bottoms out near -18°C in January. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Little Macutagon Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. McGraw Lake sits 2.8 km off and takes the overflow. For Little Macutagon Lake in particular, ask before you travel.