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59-acre lake in Nipissing District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 35 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 the Ontario MNRF survey of 1963, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Clarke Lake draws 58 acres inside 1.9 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.8) — enough points and pockets to pattern. About 90% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 0.7 mi, about 0.2 mi across. The water lies in Nipissing District. For a second option, Bud Lake lies 2 mi northwest.
Spring puts brook trout in skinny water — 2 to 15 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 20 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring brook trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (33 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 9 to 35 ft. Summer keeps them at 11 to 35 ft, and they winter in 9 to 35 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 33 ft, rated prime for summer lake trout. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 9 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft | dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 7 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 9 to 35 ft | dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 33 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm rigged through the warm months.
| 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 | Deep basin (33 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (33 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 11 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 2 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (1 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (33 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (33 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring rock bass on Clarke Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 12 to 30 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 33 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in the evening. The summer box starts with a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 12 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (33 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Clarke Lake also holds pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), burbot (11 to 35 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Clarke Lake carries 5 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 33 ft down.
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 Clarke Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Clarke Lake is about 35 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1963, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target brook trout, lake trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, burbot on Clarke Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 33 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 brook trout, 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.
Fishing on Clarke 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.
Bud Lake 2 mi · West Smith Lake 3 mi · Pinetree Lake 3 mi · Fraser Lake 3 mi · Galeairy Lake 3 mi · Whitney Lake 3 mi · Gliskning Lake 3 mi · Rapid Lake 3 mi · Sylvia Lake 4 mi · Little McCauley Lake 4 mi · Brewer Lake 4 mi · Aubrey Lake 4 mi
See how Clarke 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: Nipissing District fishing maps (683 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or 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.