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1,726-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 200 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1972, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Cairngorm Lake maps at 1,734 acres behind 42.1 miles of shoreline, broken up by 14 islands. An index of 7.2 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 27% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 10.2 mi with a 1.5-mi widest point. It sits in Thunder Bay District. Its nearest charted neighbour, Esker Lake, is 6 mi to the north.
Spring lake trout on Cairngorm Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 50 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 80 ft. The chart's best answer is Main-lake point — point, 21 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (21 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (155 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (21 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
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 Back-bay flat — weed flat, 8 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 | Back-bay flat (8 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (9 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (9 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (9 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The chart marks 8 structure features on Cairngorm Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 155 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 Cairngorm Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Cairngorm Lake is about 200 ft (61 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1972, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake trout, northern pike on Cairngorm Lake.
Back-bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Cairngorm 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.
Esker Lake 6 mi · Diablo Lake 6 mi · Fishnet Lake 8 mi · Craig Lake 8 mi · Box Lake 8 mi · Santoy Lake 8 mi · Found Lake 9 mi · Eric Lake 9 mi · Sister Lakes 9 mi · Bews Lake 10 mi · Foxtrap Lake 11 mi · Ducell Lake 11 mi
See how Cairngorm Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 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.