Satellite Depth Map
Click the map to enlarge. For such a small lake Scully is remarkably deep — a steep-sided basin that plunges past 18 m (60 ft) almost in the middle and bottoms out around 24 m (80 ft). That cold, deep water is exactly why it holds stocked brook trout. The boat launch on the west shore is marked.
Depth shown in metres and feet (see on-map legend). Bathymetry: Ontario MNRF (Bathymetry, Line). Shoreline: OpenStreetMap. Satellite: Esri World Imagery.
About Scully Lake
Scully Lake sits in the Township of Greater Madawaska, in the rolling lake country of the Madawaska Highlands about a 20-minute drive southwest of Calabogie and roughly 1.5 hours west of Ottawa. It's a small, deep, forest-ringed lake — only about 5 hectares (13 acres) and some 400 m long — but its steep, ~24 m (80 ft) basin sets it apart from the warm, weedy lakes around it.
That depth is the whole story. Cold, oxygen-rich water near the bottom gives Scully the two-storey, cold-water habitat that brook trout need, so the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources runs it as a stocked "put-grow-take" brook trout fishery — releasing speckled trout most years for anglers to grow out and catch (see the stocking record below). It's a quiet, small-water fishery, not a big sport-boat lake: think a canoe, a light cartop boat or a float tube, a fly rod or a few small spoons, and a calm morning.
The lake is reached by an unpaved Crown-land road. The MNRF lists a boat launch on the west shore (off Scully Lake Road, with roadside parking), but it's a rough, unimproved put-in — best for a canoe, kayak or light cartop boat, and only the smallest trailered craft. Keep it low-impact: the surrounding land is undeveloped forest, and small trout lakes like this depend on careful, catch-and-keep-your-limit-only use to stay productive.
- RegionMadawaska Highlands (FMZ 15)
- TownshipGreater Madawaska, ON
- Nearest townCalabogie (~20 min)
- From Ottawa~1.5 h drive
- Size~5 ha (13 ac) · ~400 m long
- Max depth~24 m (80 ft)
- AccessRough boat launch off Scully Lake Rd (west shore)
- Stocked withBrook trout (speckled trout)
Fishing Regulations
Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 15 · Source: Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary — FMZ 15. Scully Lake has no special exception in the current summary, so the zone-wide brook trout rules below apply — but seasons and limits change, so always confirm the current FMZ 15 rules before you fish.
| Species | Open Season (FMZ 15) | Sport Limit | Conservation Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout (speckled) | Jan 1 – Sep 30 | 5 | 2 | The target species at Scully — a stocked put-grow-take fishery. No zone-wide size limit. |
| Lake Trout | Jan 1 – Sep 30 | 2 | 1 | Listed for the zone; Scully is stocked with brook trout, not lake trout. |
Limits are daily catch & possession. Sport = Sport fishing licence. Conservation = Conservation licence. · Bait rule: FMZ 15 is in the Central Bait Management Zone — live or dead baitfish and leeches cannot be transported into or out of the zone. Many small trout lakes also carry their own bait or gear restrictions, so check the full FMZ 15 summary (and any posted signs at the lake) before you fish. For all other species, seasons and limits, refer to that summary.
Stocking & Access
A managed brook-trout pond reached by a quiet Crown-land road.
Scully Lake is one of the many small, deep lakes in the Madawaska Highlands that Ontario manages as a stocked brook trout fishery. The lake is not big enough to sustain wild trout on its own, so the MNRF tops it up with hatchery-raised speckled (brook) trout on a put-grow-take basis. Recent stocking from the Pembroke District / FMZ 15 list:
| Year | Species | Number Released |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Brook Trout | 2,600 |
| 2023 | Brook Trout | 1,200 |
| 2024 | Brook Trout | 1,600 |
| 2025 | Brook Trout | 1,600 |
Source: Ontario fish stocking list, FMZ 15 (Township of Greater Madawaska). Stocking numbers and schedules change year to year — check Fish ON-Line for the latest records.
Scully Lake has an MNRF-listed boat launch on the west shore, reached by the unpaved Scully Lake Road off Centennial Lake Road, with roadside parking. It's a rough, unimproved Crown-land put-in, not a paved ramp — fine for a canoe, kayak, float tube or light cartop boat, and only the smallest trailered craft. Because the basin is small and steep, you can cover the productive water with a paddle; a small electric motor is plenty. Drive slowly on the forest road, leave gates as you find them, and pack out everything you bring in.
Trip Tips
🎣 Fish the drop-offs
Scully's brook trout hold where the shallow margins fall into the deep central basin. In spring and fall they cruise shallow; in summer they slide down to the cool, oxygenated water — fish a little deeper as the season warms.
🛶 Pack light, put in easy
The west-shore launch is a rough, unimproved put-in — bring a canoe, kayak, float tube or light cartop boat. A paddle or small electric motor is all you need to cover this little lake.
🪰 Match a trout lake
Small spoons and spinners, worms under a float, or a fly rod with small streamers and nymphs all take stocked specks. Early morning and the last hour of light are best, especially in the warmer months.
🌲 Keep it productive
This is a small, stocked pond — keep only what you'll eat and within the limit, handle released fish gently, and follow any posted bait or gear rules so the fishery stays healthy.
Getting There
From Ottawa, take Highway 417 west and the Calabogie / Burnstown exits toward Calabogie. From Calabogie, follow Calabogie Road (County Rd 508) and Centennial Lake Road southwest, then turn onto the unpaved Scully Lake Road, which runs down to the boat launch on the lake's west shore (≈ 45.2405, −76.8891). The last stretch is a rough Crown-land road — drive carefully — and the launch and parking are unimproved, so pull off well clear of the travelled road.