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Rating depth structure for lake trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
715-acre lake in Timiskaming District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 96 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Banks Lake runs 715 acres with 8.5 miles of edge, broken up by 2 islands. An index of 2.3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 33% of this chart, as modeled. Call it 2.5 mi long by 1.1 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Timiskaming District. For a second option, Makobe Lake lies 3 mi southwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake trout in 10 to 40 ft. As the season builds they drop to 29 to 96 ft, wintering in 20 to 80 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 82 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
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 (24 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 29 to 96 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (82 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (24 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (82 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 15 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 40 to 90 ft, then a winter hold in 25 to 70 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 82 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (43 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (82 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (24 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (43 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Come spring, look for cisco (lake herring) tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 40 to 80 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 60 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 82 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (43 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (82 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Break off the point (43 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 25 to 70 ft. As the season builds they drop to 29 to 96 ft, wintering in 15 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 82 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for after dark and midday. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait gets it done.
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 (82 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 29 to 96 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (82 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (82 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (43 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Banks Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 82 ft.
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 Banks Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Banks Lake is about 96 ft (29 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target lake trout, lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), burbot on Banks Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 82 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Banks 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.
Makobe Lake 3 mi · Grays Lake 4 mi · Trethewey Lake 6 mi · Gladys L. 6 mi · Skull Lake 6 mi · Duncanson Lake 6 mi · Greenshore Lake 7 mi · Holden Lake 7 mi · Lockie Lake 7 mi · Heart L. 7 mi · Greenwater Lake 7 mi · Niccolite Lake 7 mi
See how Banks Lake stacks up: best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Timiskaming District fishing maps (515 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.