McCaulay Lake near Atikokan: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  McCaulay Lake sits within Rainy River District in Ontario. The surface lies 407 metres up. This is sizeable water at about 4.03 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The shoreline runs about 17 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Rainy River District. 26 km away sits Atikokan, the nearest town. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 204 km distant. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on McCaulay Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish documented in Rainy River District include northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and walleye. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish McCaulay Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -17°C in January up to 18°C in July. Winter shuts the surface down for months. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at McCaulay Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A made slipway is 1.3 km from here, which settles the boat question. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Hidden Lake sits 1.4 km off and takes the overflow. Where McCaulay Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.