McCarrel Lake Fishing in Algoma, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Algoma, Ontario, sits McCarrel Lake. The bank is 233 metres above sea level. At some 4.06 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The edge covers about 23 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. Size puts it in the front rank of our Algoma list. The closest town, Sault Ste. Marie, is 32 km away. It is 225 km to Greater Sudbury, the nearest city. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on McCarrel Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Algoma records list walleye, northern pike and Iowa darter among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Work McCarrel Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 18°C; by January the average is down near -11°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. McCarrel Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• 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. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Becking Lake, 2.8 km away. Check the position at McCarrel Lake before loading the car.