McKay Lake Fishing near Longlac, Ontario

• Overview

  McKay Lake falls in Thunder Bay District, part of Ontario. The surface lies 319 metres up. It covers about 40.73 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. The outline measures near 130 km, so a boat opens up water the bank never reaches. It ranks high for size among our Thunder Bay District listings. Some 20 km away sits Longlac, the nearest settlement. Geraldton is 39 km away, with Greenstone at 54 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on McKay Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish McKay Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 16°C and January reads -18°C. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan around that when you fish McKay Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Seagram Lake, 4.7 km away. Confirm access to McKay Lake locally before you travel.