McCarry Lake in Bayfield County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  McCarry Lake is one of the Bayfield County waters in Wisconsin. It sits at 1,102 feet above sea level. Roughly 32 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Bank access stretches around 0.9 miles in total. 16 miles away sits Lake Nebagamon, the nearest town. The big place round here is Saint Paul, 137 miles distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on McCarry Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch, rainbow trout and white sucker. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Treat McCarry Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 9°F in January. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. That is the shape of the year on McCarry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. This lies within protected land, so the rules will be stricter than usual. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Cat Lake, 0.4 miles out. For McCarry Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.