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6,285-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 59 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1978, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
The outline encloses 6,314 acres, worked by 136.4 miles of shoreline, with 41 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 12.2) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 75% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 11.9 mi with a 5.8-mi widest point. It sits in Kenora District. If the bite dies, Orono Lake is 7 mi to the northwest.
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 15 to 45 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 18 to 59 ft, and winter fish settle into 18 to 59 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 53 ft, rated prime for summer lake whitefish. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (14 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (3 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
In spring, cisco (lake herring) run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 18 to 59 ft, and winter fish settle into 18 to 59 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 53 ft, rated prime for summer cisco (lake herring). Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (51 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (3 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 35 ft before dropping to 20 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (3 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (14 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (7 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: sauger in 4 to 18 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 45 ft. Top water on the chart: Rock reef, a rock pile in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (3 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (7 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (51 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. Spring yellow perch concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 2 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
| 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 | Sharp break (7 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (7 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Summer is an 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 2 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| 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 | Shallow feeding flat (14 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (7 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (14 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Berens River also holds burbot (18 to 59 ft in summer), lake sturgeon (15 to 40 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
15 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 53 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 Berens River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Berens River is about 59 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1978, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, sauger, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot, lake sturgeon on Berens River.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 53 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For lake whitefish, 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 Berens River 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.
Orono Lake 7 mi · Donaldson Lake 8 mi · Stout Lake 12 mi · Donaldson River 13 mi · Moar Lake 16 mi, ON/MB · Rheaume Lake 16 mi · Malaher Lake 17 mi · Old Shoes Lake 23 mi · Onepine Lake 24 mi · Shining Falls Lake 25 mi · Black Birch Lake 27 mi · Frances Lake 29 mi, ON/MB
See how Berens River stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best sauger lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Kenora District fishing maps (1173 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.