Carter Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (ON)

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Lake depth chart

Carter Lake, ON

Max 12 ft

Today's read

Where to start

Hopper & ant season (windward banks) window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Hopper & ant season (windward banks)Active window

Typical here: Jul 1 – Sep 15 · hoppers peak July–August; winged-ant falls show up on warm humid afternoons — a wind event, not a hatch

adultwarm, breezy afternoons, roughly 1–5pm — slap the imitation down hard — the splat is the trigger — then wait; count to three after the rise before setting

Work the windward bank on breezy summer afternoons — that's where the food is. Casting-bubble-and-hopper is the direct translation; otherwise run small topwaters and inline spinners tight along the grass edges and blowdown banks in the afternoon warmth.

The event happens over windward grassy banks, overhanging brush and blowdowns — wherever the breeze dumps the bugs

Fall shiner runActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Oct 31 · same push on the Ontario side — Simcoe's shiners migrate shallow as the water cools, and the predators ride with them

adultdaylight for the jig bite; after dark the shiners stack under dock lights with walleyes and pike mixed right in — follow the bait, not the spot — millions of shiners move together and the predators ride with them; silver profile and flash matter

Concentrates hard but travels — the school (and the walleyes under it) can be off a river mouth one week and miles upriver the next.

Jig-and-minnow is the event's signature — a frozen emerald shiner on a 1/4 oz jig drifted along the run; silver jerkbaits and trolled crankbaits take the roaming fish; blade baits under the schools.

The event happens over river mouths and the first miles upriver, warming shallow shorelines, and rocky points where the displaced bait stacks

Next on this water

Hex (giant mayfly) · mayflyMay 25 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

June mayfly hatch (walleye lakes) · mayflyJun 1 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Carter Lake

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Carter Lake on the board.

Fishing Carter Lake: what the data says

35-acre lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 12 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 is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.

Traced from the shoreline, Carter Lake runs 35 acres with 2.4 miles of edge. With a shoreline index of 3, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. The basin spans about 1.1 mi end to end. You'll find it in Parry Sound District. The nearest mapped water is Hammell Lake, 1 mi to the south.

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Carter Lake

In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 12 ft, and they winter in 4 to 12 ft. Fall smallmouth bass concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 8 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	4 to 12 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (5 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	4 to 12 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	4 to 12 ft	midday	Break off the point (5 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 10 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 10 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 5 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft

Carter Lake fishing regulations

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 Carter Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Carter Lake?

Carter Lake is about 12 ft (4 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.

What fish are in Carter Lake?

Anglers target smallmouth bass on Carter Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on Carter Lake?

Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.

When is the best time to fish Carter Lake?

For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

What are the fishing regulations for Carter Lake?

Fishing on Carter 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.

Nearby waters

Hammell Lake 1 mi · Sucker Lake 1 mi · Fair Lake 1 mi · Mirror Lake 2 mi · Draper Lake 2 mi · Fraser Lake 2 mi · Gerow Lake 3 mi · Long Lake 3 mi · Little Lake Joseph 3 mi · Dick Lake 3 mi · Dyson Lake 3 mi · Trout Lake 3 mi

See how Carter Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario

More water nearby: Parry Sound District fishing maps (441 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or 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.