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2,781-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 46 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 an MNRF lake survey by the Ontario MNRF. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The outline encloses 2,793 acres, worked by 48.4 miles of shoreline, broken up by 28 islands. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 6.5) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 60% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 3.9 mi with a 3.7-mi widest point. Kenora District claims this one. If the bite dies, Olsen Lake is 2 mi to the southeast.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 35 ft, wintering in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for the evening and early morning. 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 | Shoreline point (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (3 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (46 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. Weed flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Time it for early morning. 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 | Weed flat (5 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (46 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Weed flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 5 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | Weed flat (5 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Weed flat (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
In spring, cisco (lake herring) run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 14 to 46 ft before dropping to 14 to 46 ft for winter. Summer cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 46 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic most summer days.
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 | Deep basin (46 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (46 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (3 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (46 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Early season crappie use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 25 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Put Weed flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 5 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (5 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
In spring, rock bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 20 ft before dropping to 12 to 30 ft for winter. Summer rock bass concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 4 ft. Fish it in the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (4 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Sharp break (3 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 12 to 30 ft | midday | open water | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Butler Lake also holds sauger (10 to 30 ft in summer), smallmouth bass (10 to 30 ft in summer), lake whitefish (14 to 46 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
13 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 46 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 Butler Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Butler Lake is about 46 ft (14 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from an MNRF lake survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, cisco (lake herring), crappie, rock bass, sauger, smallmouth bass, lake whitefish on Butler Lake. This isn't a survey of the lake — none is on record for it — but an informed estimate from the species Ontario's MNRF recorded in the nearest surveyed lakes, filtered to this lake's depth and habitat.
Weed flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 Butler 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.
Olsen Lake 2 mi · Larson Lake 3 mi · Stuart Lake 4 mi · Paulson Lake 4 mi · Wabigoon Lake 5 mi · Gladys Lake 5 mi · Tremeer Lake 5 mi · Dinorwic Lake 5 mi · East Godson Lake 6 mi · Trap Lake 6 mi · Mile Lake 6 mi · Godson Lake 7 mi
See how Butler Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best walleye lakes in Ontario · best sauger lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Kenora District fishing maps (1173 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.