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773-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 46 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 1979, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The drawn water covers 776 acres wrapped in 12.4 miles of bank, with 4 islands in the mix. A development index of 3.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 95% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 2 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.6 mi at the beam. Kenora District claims this one. If the bite dies, Bell Lake is 7 mi to the southeast.
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 35 ft, wintering in 20 to 40 ft. Winter walleye concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 39 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (39 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (39 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Back-bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. 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 | Back-bay flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (39 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (39 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for northern pike tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Start at Back-bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Back-bay flat (2 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rock bass in 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 20 ft before dropping to 12 to 30 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for rock bass in fall. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 12 to 30 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Come spring, look for burbot tight to the bank in 14 to 46 ft. Through summer count on 14 to 46 ft; the winter hold is 12 to 46 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 39 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (39 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (39 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (39 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 12 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (39 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Darkwater Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 39 ft down.
Access data: Geospatial Ontario - Fishing Access Points. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Darkwater Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Darkwater Lake is about 46 ft (14 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1979, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, rock bass, burbot on Darkwater Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 39 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 Darkwater 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.
Bell Lake 7 mi · Queer L. 7 mi · Elva Lake 8 mi · Cutstone Lake 8 mi · Willow L. 9 mi · Pike Lake 9 mi · Penassi Lake 9 mi · Young Lake 9 mi · Graystone Lake 9 mi · Barge Lake 10 mi · Glitter L. 10 mi · Palette L. 10 mi
See how Darkwater Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Kenora District fishing maps (1173 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.