Lake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for yellow perch.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
34-acre lake in Alberta. The lake tops out around 46 ft. The depth chart comes from Alberta Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Arm Lake maps at 34 acres behind 1.6 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 63% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 0.4 mi end to end and 0.3 mi across at its widest. It sits in Division No. 7. Its nearest charted neighbour, Gordon Lake, is 27 mi to the east.
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Arm Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 16 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (7 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (45 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts lake whitefish in skinny water — 15 to 45 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 14 to 46 ft, wintering in 14 to 46 ft. Summer lake whitefish concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 45 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (45 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (45 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Early season burbot use the shallows, holding in 14 to 46 ft. Even in summer they hold at 14 to 46 ft; winter keeps them in 12 to 46 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 45 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and midday. Tie on a heavy jig + cut bait and you're in the game.
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 | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (45 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (45 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (45 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 12 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (45 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Structure-wise the chart holds 5 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 45 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Alberta waters are set by the Alberta fishing regulations — and special regulations can apply to Arm Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alberta fishing regulations →
Arm Lake is about 46 ft (14 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Alberta Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target yellow perch, northern pike, walleye, lake whitefish, burbot on Arm Lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Arm Lake is regulated by the Alberta fishing regulations. Check the official Alberta regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Gordon Lake 27 mi, SK · Dillberry Lake 27 mi · Suffern Lake 30 mi, SK · Yonker Lake 35 mi, SK · Gooseberry Lake 44 mi · Birch Lake North Bay 57 mi · Beauvallon Lake 71 mi · Atton Lake 73 mi, SK · Whitney Lake 75 mi · Laurier Lake 77 mi · Frog Lake 82 mi · Lac Saint Cyr 83 mi
See how Arm Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Alberta · best northern pike lakes in Alberta · best yellow perch lakes in Alberta · best lake whitefish lakes in Alberta
Browse all Alberta fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: Alberta Geological Survey, Lake bathymetry. 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.