McLellan Lake in Renfrew County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ontario holds McLellan Lake, in Renfrew County. The ground round it is mixed forest. At 6 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Ontario listings. You are 9.9 km from Renfrew. The nearest city of size is Nepean, 70 km away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on McLellan Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Renfrew County include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. McLellan Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 19°C, with January the cold end at about -12°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan any trip to McLellan Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Dedo Lake, 0.7 km out. Check the position at McLellan Lake before loading the car.