Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for yellow perch.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
8,994-acre lake near Collingwood Cove. The lake tops out around 15 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The drawn water covers 8,973 acres wrapped in 45.6 miles of bank — 4 islands included. The 3.4 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Figure 7.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 3.8 mi at the beam. Division No. 11 claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Antler Lake, is 4 mi to the north.
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Gravel shoal (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Deep basin (15 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (15 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
15 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 15 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Alberta waters are set by the Alberta fishing regulations — and special regulations can apply to Cooking Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alberta fishing regulations →
Cooking Lake is about 15 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target yellow perch on Cooking Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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.
Fishing on Cooking Lake is regulated by the Alberta fishing regulations. Check the official Alberta regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Antler Lake 4 mi · Hastings Lake 4 mi · Oliver Lake 10 mi · Joseph Lake 10 mi · Miquelon Lakes 13 mi · Astotin Lake 18 mi · Telford Lake 24 mi · Coal Lake 28 mi · Muir Lake 41 mi · Wizard Lake 41 mi · Hubbles Lake 45 mi · Chickakoo Lake 45 mi
See how Cooking Lake stacks up: best yellow perch lakes in Alberta
More water nearby: Division No. 11 fishing maps (25 charts). Browse all Alberta 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.