McFarland Lake Fishing Guide, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, McFarland Lake is an Ontario water. It stands 446 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to roughly 1.52 sq km, so plan for one area rather than the whole. Size puts it in the front rank of our Thunder Bay District list. Grand Marais lies 39 km from the water. For a city, Thunder Bay is 71 km off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on McFarland Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. 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. Survey and observation records for Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The county list is broader than any single water. On McFarland Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 17°C in July and bottoms out near -15°C in January. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice clears near late April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On McFarland Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Public data records a boat ramp 840 m out. Parking sits 860 m out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Public data records a pier about 840 m out. A campsite lies 880 m away for anyone staying over. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Little John Lake is 1.2 km off. Check the current arrangement for McFarland Lake.