McCullough Lake in Grey County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Grey County, Ontario, sits McCullough Lake. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. The water covers some 62 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The shoreline runs about 5.2 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Grey County. Start from Markdale, 22 km down the road. Owen Sound is 23 km away, with Hanover at 25 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on McCullough Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name Chinook salmon, rainbow trout and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Anyone new to McCullough Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -7°C to 19°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The season between ice runs from about mid April to mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan around that when you fish McCullough Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Minkes Lake, 1.9 km out. Where McCullough Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.