McKewen Lake in Algoma: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  McKewen Lake lies in Algoma, Ontario. This is northern bush country. At some 1.35 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Some 13 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It ranks high for size among our Algoma listings. The closest town, Wawa, is 64 km away. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 312 km distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on McKewen Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Algoma include walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Work McKewen Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 16°C and January at -16°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. On McKewen Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Annex Lake at 1.3 km is the nearest alternative. For McKewen Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.