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235-acre lake in Algoma District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 70 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 1973, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
The outline encloses 236 acres, worked by 5.4 miles of shoreline, with 7 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 2.5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 41% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 1.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.8 mi at the beam. It sits in Algoma District. Tunnel Lake sits 2 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official Ontario MNRF Fish ON-Line record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
Early season lake trout use the shallows, holding in 10 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 21 to 70 ft, then a winter hold in 18 to 70 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 70 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (70 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 18 to 70 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (70 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
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 12 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 (12 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (12 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring smallmouth bass on Axe Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 11 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (12 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts rock bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 20 ft, wintering in 12 to 30 ft. Summer rock bass concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 11 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (11 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (12 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 12 to 30 ft | midday | Break off the point (12 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Early season burbot use the shallows, holding in 25 to 70 ft. Even in summer they hold at 21 to 70 ft; winter keeps them in 15 to 60 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 70 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 | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (70 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (70 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 21 to 70 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (70 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (70 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Early season rainbow smelt use the shallows, holding in 2 to 20 ft. Summer is a 21 to 70 ft game here, winter a 15 to 60 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 70 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a tiny vertical jig or a small sabiki-style rig where legal 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 | 2 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Tiny silver jig, Micro spoon |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (70 ft) | Tiny vertical jig, Small sabiki-style rig where legal |
| Fall | 18 to 65 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (70 ft) | Micro spoon, Tiny jig |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | dusk | Deep basin (70 ft) | Tiny glow jig, Micro jigging spoon |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 70 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 Axe Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Axe Lake is about 70 ft (21 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1973, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rock bass, burbot, rainbow smelt on Axe Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 70 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For lake trout, 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 Axe 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.
Tunnel Lake 2 mi · Footprint Lake 2 mi · Huston Lake 2 mi · Chub Lake 3 mi · Franklin Lake 3 mi · Urquhart Lake 3 mi · Jobammageeshig Lake 3 mi · Cumming's Lake 3 mi · Pipe Lake 4 mi · Damn Lake 4 mi · Burrows Lake 4 mi · Beales Lake 5 mi
See how Axe Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Algoma District fishing maps (1026 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.