Lake depth chart
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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
55-acre lake in Peterborough County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 50 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 a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Drawn out, this is 56 acres of water rimmed by 2.1 miles of bank. Index 2.1 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 57% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 0.7 mi end to end and 0.4 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Peterborough County. The nearest mapped water is Triangle Lake, 1 mi to the northwest.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official Ontario MNRF Fish ON-Line record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 50 ft; cold water stacks them in 13 to 50 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 50 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | Break off the point (17 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 13 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring yellow perch on Cherry Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 17 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (17 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 45 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 17 ft, rated prime for summer smallmouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (17 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. Winter largemouth bass concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 17 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (17 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, pumpkinseed slide up into 1 to 8 ft. Summer is a 2 to 10 ft game here, winter a 6 to 18 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 1 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. Keep a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring puts yellow bullhead in skinny water — 2 to 9 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 28 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 1 ft, rated prime for spring yellow bullhead. Plan around after dark in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | night | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Winter | 10 to 28 ft | midday | open water |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 50 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 Cherry Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Cherry Lake is about 50 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target lake trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead on Cherry Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 50 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Cherry 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.
Triangle Lake 1 mi · Turtle Lake 1 mi · Stoplog Lake 1 mi · Loucks Lake 2 mi · Cox Lake 2 mi · Buzzard Lake 2 mi · Shark Lake 3 mi · Cold Lake 3 mi · Pilot Lake 4 mi · Long Lake 4 mi · McGee Lake 4 mi · Raccoon Lake 4 mi
See how Cherry Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Ontario · best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Peterborough County fishing maps (83 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.