McLean Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  McLean Lake falls in Cochrane District, part of Ontario. The surface lies 333 metres up. At 4 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Cochrane District. Iroquois Falls sits 46 km from the bank. Then Kirkland Lake, 46 km, and La Sarre, 76 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on McLean Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker and Iowa darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. McLean Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -18°C to 17°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to McLean Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Kettle Lake at 1.3 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing on McLean Lake should be assumed from this page alone.