Map of McAree Lake with depth contours

McAree Lake

48.2873° N, 91.9246° W

Depth contours from the government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

McAree Lake is 30.5 m deep at its deepest point, deeper than 79% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 9.12 km² and lies 17 km southeast of Lac la Croix.

Government surveys have recorded 17 fish species here, including walleye, cisco and smallmouth bass.

Maximum depth
30.5 m
deeper than 79% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
9.12 km²
larger than 95% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
58.4 km
longer than 96% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Fish species
17
more than 93% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
363 m

Today on the water

0.4 °C

Wind ENE 2 km/h

Observed at Atikokan, as of 8:00 a.m. CDT

choppy Estimated waves, next 12 hours: up to 0.2 m. Around 7 p.m., wind from the southeast: the southeast shore is sheltered, waves build toward the northwest shore.

Hourly forecast, next 24 hours
Time9 a.m.12 p.m.3 p.m.6 p.m.9 p.m.12 a.m.3 a.m.6 a.m.
Wind km/hvar. 5var. 5SE 10SE 10SE 20SE 20SE 20SE 20
Gusts km/h40404040
Waves (est.) m0.10.10.10.10.2
Temp. °C4111513108910
Precip. %00000000

Today: Increasing cloudiness this morning. Wind up to 15 km/h. High 16. Wind chill minus 4 this morning. UV index 3 or moderate.

Weather: Atikokan (local forecast), as of 8:03 a.m. CDT

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
6:47 a.m.
Sunrise
7:18 a.m.
Sunset
6:30 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:01 p.m.
Moonrise
6:12 a.m.
Moonset
5:49 p.m.
Moon
Waning crescent, 1% lit

Data Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada. Local times.

How waves are estimated

Significant wave height from the forecast hourly wind and the open-water distance (fetch) upwind, using the SMB method (US Army Corps of Engineers Shore Protection Manual, 1984), rounded up to the next 0.1 m. It is not a measurement: gusts, leftover swell and shoals can make water rougher. Under 0.2 m: calm; 0.2–0.5 m: choppy; over 0.5 m: rough.

Depth

53% of McAree Lake is deeper than 10 m.

How to read it: the lake’s area is sorted from the shore to the deepest point. Where the curve is flat, large areas share one depth (flats and weed beds); where it drops, depth changes quickly (drop-offs).

The government depth survey records a maximum depth of 30.5 m, drawn from 45 depth contours.

Not for navigation. Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 22 government surveys (2010–2010) that recorded them.

  • Walleye20 of 22
  • Cisco7 of 22
  • Smallmouth Bass6 of 22
  • Yellow Perch6 of 22
  • Lake Whitefish4 of 22
  • Rock Bass4 of 22
  • Sauger4 of 22
  • Black Crappie3 of 22
  • Burbot2 of 22
  • Northern Pike2 of 22
  • Bluegill1 of 22
  • Lake Trout1 of 22
Forage fish and other species (5)

Forage fish

  • Emerald Shiner 3
  • Logperch 1
  • Spottail Shiner 1
  • Trout-Perch 1

Other

  • White Sucker 5

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

The provincial guide to eating fish (2026) sets limits for 8 species from McAree Lake. Maximum meals per month:

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Lake Trout50-55 cm84Mercury
Lake Whitefish45-50 cm128PCB
Northern Pike55-60 cm8Do not eatMercury
Smallmouth Bass35-40 cm4Do not eatMercury
Walleye40-45 cm4Do not eatMercury
Burbot (Ling)50-55 cm4Do not eatMercury
Cisco (Lake Herring)35-40 cm164Mercury
White Sucker40-45 cm1612Precautionary

* As defined in the guide, including children and people who are or may become pregnant. Limits are for the length the guide lists most often; they change with the size of the fish. Read the official guide

Fishing regulations: Fisheries Management Zone 5. Check seasons and limits before you fish.