McCleary Lake in Northumberland County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Northumberland County in Ontario is where McCleary Lake sits. The bank is 239 metres above sea level. At roughly 6 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Northumberland County list. Campbellford sits 15 km from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Oshawa is 80 km off. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on McCleary Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Northumberland County include rock bass, johnny darter, pumpkinseed and smallmouth bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. McCleary Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 20°C; the cold one sits at -8°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and early December closes it again. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. It sets the rhythm of the year at McCleary Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try O'Reilly Lake, 1.3 km away. Nothing here settles the position at McCleary Lake for certain.