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183-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 112 ft. The depth chart comes from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1978, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Drawn out, this is 182 acres of water rimmed by 6 miles of bank. The 3.1 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 84% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 1.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.7 mi at the beam. The water lies in Thunder Bay District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Huronian Lake, 3 mi east of here.
Come spring, look for yellow perch tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 23 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (23 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (23 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 25 to 70 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 34 to 112 ft, wintering in 15 to 60 ft. Summer burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 86 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (23 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 34 to 112 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (86 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (86 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (23 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 86 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Ontario waters are set by the Ontario fishing regulations (FMZ summary) — and special regulations can apply to Arbour Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Arbour Lake is about 112 ft (34 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1978, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Arbour Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For yellow perch, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Arbour Lake is regulated by the Ontario fishing regulations (FMZ summary). Check the official Ontario regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Huronian Lake 3 mi · Brûlé Lake 4 mi · Rudge Lake 5 mi · Windigoostigwan Lake 5 mi · Tilly Lake 6 mi · Baril Lake 7 mi · Fork Lake 7 mi · Stetham Lake 7 mi · Burnt Island Lake 8 mi · Chief Peter Lake 9 mi · Sitches Lake 9 mi · Edar Lake 9 mi
See how Arbour Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.