Lake Kagawong
Encyclopedia
Lake Kagawong is the second largest lake
on Manitoulin Island
in Ontario
, Canada
. Located in the central part of the island, the lake is drained by the Kagawong River
, which falls over Bridal Veil Falls
into Lake Huron
. Kagawong means "[where mists rise] from the falling [waters]" in the local Ojibwe language
.
Lake Kagawong has moderately deep (10-15 meter average) clear-green water, with vertical visibility of 5-6 meters.
Located centrally in Lake Kagawong is an archipelago, consisting of the mile-long (1.6 km) Kakawaie Island, and the much smaller Little Island and Gull Island. There is also an un-named submerged island that is part of this group. Two miles (3.2 km) north of Kakawaie Island is the solitary Bass Island. All of the islands are uninhabited. Occasionally, large mammals such as deer will be seen on the large island. It is assumed that these animals find their way onto the island during the winter months when the lake is frozen, and are stranded there upon the breakup of the ice.
Most of Lake Kagawong is navigable by recreational and fishing boats, though there are several hazards to navigation. Most notable are the previously mentioned submerged island (located 200 yards (178 m) directly east of Kakawaie Island), the shoals of Kerr’s Point and Ednie’s Point, and the shallow bays Mud Bay and Prior’s Bay. However, few areas have claimed more boaters’ propellers than the eastern submerged extension of Twin Harbours. This peninsula of suitcase-sized boulders rises shockingly fast from the 20-meter-deep waters of southern Lake Kagawong. Its location at the entrance to the bay that is home to the government boat ramp and that further enhances its reputation as Lake Kagawong’s primary hazard to navigation.
The deepest areas of the lake are, ironically, very close to shore. The eastern-most shore of Lake Kagawong consists of a sheer rocky ledge. This ledge can be as low as 1-2 meters, but rises up to 15 meters at Red Rock. The cliffs of Red Rock rise from water that is in excess of 40 meters deep. Care should be taken when boating next to these cliffs, as rockfalls are frequent.
Fishing remains Lake Kagawong’s primary attraction over the years. Various species have obtained dominance in popularity. In the early 1900’s, small mouth bass and northern pike were caught in great numbers. Photos exist of proud fishermen displaying catches of nearly 100 bass and pike taken in a single outing. In the 1950s and 60s, whitefish were fished commercially on the lake (although the whitefish population is essentially extinct in the lake today). Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, yellow perch and small mouth bass have been the primary target of anglers. Today, there is a controversial effort to stock the lake with yellow walleye. Many fishermen are blaming the walleye stocking effort for the recent decline in yellow perch catches. However, both fishing pressure and the recent arrival of fish-eating cormorants certainly share some of the blame. Other fish occasionally caught on Lake Kagawong are rock bass, pumpkinseed, and catfish.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
on Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is a Canadian island in Lake Huron, in the province of Ontario. It is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. In addition to the historic Anishinaabe and European settlement of the island, archeological discoveries at Sheguiandah have demonstrated Paleo-Indian and...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Located in the central part of the island, the lake is drained by the Kagawong River
Kagawong River
The Kagawong River is a river on Manitoulin Island in Manitoulin District, Ontario, Canada which flows from Lake Kagawong to empty into Mudge Bay on the North Channel Lake Huron. The river falls over a limestone bluff at Bridal Veil Falls. "Kagawong" means "mists rising from falling water" in the...
, which falls over Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls (Manitoulin Island)
LalalaBridal Veil Falls is a waterfall near the town of Kagawong on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. The water source is the Kagawong River which flows between Lake Kagawong and Lake Huron....
into Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
. Kagawong means "[where mists rise] from the falling [waters]" in the local Ojibwe language
Ojibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
.
Lake Kagawong has moderately deep (10-15 meter average) clear-green water, with vertical visibility of 5-6 meters.
Located centrally in Lake Kagawong is an archipelago, consisting of the mile-long (1.6 km) Kakawaie Island, and the much smaller Little Island and Gull Island. There is also an un-named submerged island that is part of this group. Two miles (3.2 km) north of Kakawaie Island is the solitary Bass Island. All of the islands are uninhabited. Occasionally, large mammals such as deer will be seen on the large island. It is assumed that these animals find their way onto the island during the winter months when the lake is frozen, and are stranded there upon the breakup of the ice.
Most of Lake Kagawong is navigable by recreational and fishing boats, though there are several hazards to navigation. Most notable are the previously mentioned submerged island (located 200 yards (178 m) directly east of Kakawaie Island), the shoals of Kerr’s Point and Ednie’s Point, and the shallow bays Mud Bay and Prior’s Bay. However, few areas have claimed more boaters’ propellers than the eastern submerged extension of Twin Harbours. This peninsula of suitcase-sized boulders rises shockingly fast from the 20-meter-deep waters of southern Lake Kagawong. Its location at the entrance to the bay that is home to the government boat ramp and that further enhances its reputation as Lake Kagawong’s primary hazard to navigation.
The deepest areas of the lake are, ironically, very close to shore. The eastern-most shore of Lake Kagawong consists of a sheer rocky ledge. This ledge can be as low as 1-2 meters, but rises up to 15 meters at Red Rock. The cliffs of Red Rock rise from water that is in excess of 40 meters deep. Care should be taken when boating next to these cliffs, as rockfalls are frequent.
Fishing remains Lake Kagawong’s primary attraction over the years. Various species have obtained dominance in popularity. In the early 1900’s, small mouth bass and northern pike were caught in great numbers. Photos exist of proud fishermen displaying catches of nearly 100 bass and pike taken in a single outing. In the 1950s and 60s, whitefish were fished commercially on the lake (although the whitefish population is essentially extinct in the lake today). Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, yellow perch and small mouth bass have been the primary target of anglers. Today, there is a controversial effort to stock the lake with yellow walleye. Many fishermen are blaming the walleye stocking effort for the recent decline in yellow perch catches. However, both fishing pressure and the recent arrival of fish-eating cormorants certainly share some of the blame. Other fish occasionally caught on Lake Kagawong are rock bass, pumpkinseed, and catfish.