Collins L. Depth Map & Fishing Spots (ON)

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Lake depth chart

Collins L., ON

Max 27 ft

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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.

Depth · ft

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Recent catches at Collins L.

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Fishing Collins L.: what the data says

943-acre lake in Frontenac County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 27 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.

Drawn out, this is 943 acres of water rimmed by 12.6 miles of bank. With a shoreline index of 2.9, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 77% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 3.9 mi end to end and 1.3 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Frontenac County. For a second option, Inverary Lake lies 3 mi northeast.

Yellow Perch fishing at Collins L.

Come spring, look for yellow perch tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 27 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 27 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	midday & dawn	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank
Summer	8 to 27 ft	dawn	Deep basin (23 ft)	Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm
Fall	8 to 27 ft	midday	Deep basin (23 ft)	Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader
Winter	8 to 27 ft	midday & dawn	Deep basin (23 ft)	Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small)

Northern Pike fishing at Collins L.

Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	#5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white)
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (12 ft)	Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage
Fall	6 to 18 ft	midday & dawn	Break off the point (12 ft)	Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait
Winter	5 to 15 ft	midday	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon

Muskellunge fishing at Collins L.

In spring, muskellunge run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 27 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 12 ft, rated prime for fall muskellunge. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dusk	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait
Summer	8 to 25 ft	dusk & dawn	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper)
Fall	7 to 27 ft	midday & dusk	Break off the point (12 ft)	Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait
Winter	8 to 27 ft	midday	Deep basin (23 ft)	Large rubber, crawled slow

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Collins L.

Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 27 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 27 ft. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig until the fish tell you otherwise.

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	8 to 27 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (12 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	8 to 25 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	8 to 27 ft	midday	Break off the point (12 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Largemouth Bass fishing at Collins L.

The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 8 to 27 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	dawn & dusk	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	Spinnerbait, Chatterbait
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (12 ft)	Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	8 to 27 ft	midday	Break off the point (12 ft)	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

Rock Bass fishing at Collins L.

Early season rock bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 5 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 27 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 8 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Tie on a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (8 ft)	1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner
Summer	5 to 20 ft	dusk	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Ned rig (small), Marabou jig
Fall	8 to 22 ft	midday	Break off the point (12 ft)	Small tube jig, Inline spinner
Winter	8 to 27 ft	midday	Deep basin (23 ft)	Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike

Collins L. also holds crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.

Notable structure

Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 23 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 23 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 12 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft

Collins L. 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 Collins L. specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Collins L.?

Collins L. is about 27 ft (8 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 Collins L.?

Anglers target yellow perch, northern pike, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, common carp on Collins L..

Where is the best fishing spot on Collins L.?

Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Collins L.?

For yellow perch, 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.

What are the fishing regulations for Collins L.?

Fishing on Collins L. 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

Inverary Lake 3 mi · Round Lake 4 mi · Loughborough Lake 5 mi · Sydenham Lake 7 mi · Mica Lake 8 mi · Dog Lake 8 mi · Cronk Lake 8 mi · Little Devil Lake 9 mi · Draper Lake 9 mi · Blue Lake 9 mi · Gould Lake 9 mi · Knowlton Lake 9 mi

See how Collins L. stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Ontario · best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best crappie lakes in Ontario

More water nearby: Frontenac County fishing maps (127 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.