Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
231-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 18 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 season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Drawn out, this is 232 acres of water rimmed by 4.4 miles of bank — one island included. Index 2.1 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Call it 1 mi long by 0.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Kenora District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Chancellor Lake, 3 mi southeast of here.
Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 5 to 18 ft game here, winter a 5 to 18 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 13 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (13 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring yellow perch on Darling Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 18 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 4 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.
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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring puts northern pike in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 18 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Spring northern pike concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 4 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.
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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, rock bass slide up into 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 18 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 13 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Keep a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig rigged through the warm months.
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 | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Secondary point (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Secondary point (2 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 5 to 18 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 5 to 18 ft covers summer, 5 to 18 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and midday. Throw a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Darling Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 13 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 Darling Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Darling Lake is about 18 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. 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.
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, rock bass, burbot on Darling Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Darling 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.
Chancellor Lake 3 mi · Straight Lake 3 mi · Passover Lake 4 mi · Lost Lake 5 mi · Eagle Lake 5 mi · Lake VE78-39 6 mi · Oldcamp Lake 7 mi · McKinstry Lake 7 mi · Pikwans Lake 7 mi · Walleye Lake 8 mi · Beaverhouse Lake 8 mi · Moon Lake 9 mi
See how Darling 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.