Fishing at MacIntyre Lake, Turnor Lake, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  MacIntyre Lake sits in Turnor Lake, out in Saskatchewan. This is spruce and muskeg ground. At roughly 24.33 sq km it ranks among the larger waters in the region. The bank runs about 115 km in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Buffalo Narrows lies 227 km from the water. After that come La Ronge at 264 km and Pelican Narrows at 319 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on MacIntyre Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Turnor Lake: walleye and spottail shiner. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On MacIntyre Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 16°C on average, January about -23°C. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Winter locks it down, and mid May brings it back. Ice usually gives way near mid May, and forms again about early November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on MacIntyre Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Cree Lake at 24 km is the sensible second choice. The position on MacIntyre Lake is worth confirming on the day.