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471-acre lake in Hastings County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 70 ft. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Big Mink Lake maps at 473 acres behind 13.8 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 4.5) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 69% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 3.5 mi, about 1.5 mi across. It sits in Hastings County. Meach Lake sits 4 mi northwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
When the water first warms, lake trout slide up into 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 21 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 18 to 70 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 62 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (62 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 18 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (62 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 20 to 45 ft one. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 10 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (9 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: pumpkinseed sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 18 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for pumpkinseed in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. Throw a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Come spring, look for brown bullhead tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 25 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (62 ft) |
When the water first warms, burbot slide up into 25 to 70 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 21 to 70 ft, winter 15 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 62 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and midday. Keep a heavy jig + cut bait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (62 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (62 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 21 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (62 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (62 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Big Mink Lake carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 62 ft down.
Access data: Land Information Ontario — Fishing Access Point. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Big Mink Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Big Mink Lake is about 70 ft (21 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target lake trout, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, burbot on Big Mink Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 62 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Big Mink 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.
Meach Lake 4 mi · South Little Mink Lake 4 mi · Scorch Lake 5 mi · Lake St. Peter 5 mi · Byers Lake 5 mi · Big Rock Lake 6 mi · Branch Lake 7 mi · Upper Minnow Lake 7 mi · Little Billings Lake 7 mi · Kingscote Lake 7 mi · Billings Lake 8 mi · McKenzie Lake 8 mi
See how Big Mink Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario · best pumpkinseed lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Hastings County fishing maps (30 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.