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279-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 79 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 1981 (an MNRF lake survey). Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Derby Lake maps at 278 acres behind 6 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.6) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 76% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 1.9 mi, about 0.7 mi across. Kenora District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Anstey Lake, is 1 mi to the south.
When the water first warms, lake trout slide up into 10 to 40 ft. Summer is a 24 to 79 ft game here, winter a 20 to 79 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 58 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (13 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 24 to 79 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (58 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 79 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (58 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Start shallow in spring: cisco (lake herring) sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 24 to 79 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 58 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (13 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 24 to 79 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (58 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (58 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 13 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| 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 (13 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (13 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Back-bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| 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 (13 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, burbot slide up into 25 to 70 ft. Summer is a 24 to 79 ft game here, winter a 15 to 60 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 58 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run after dark and midday. Keep a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (58 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 24 to 79 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (58 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 24 to 79 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (58 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (58 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 58 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Derby Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Derby Lake is about 79 ft (24 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1981 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target lake trout, cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Derby Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 58 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For lake trout, 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 Derby 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.
Anstey Lake 1 mi · Katimiagamak Lake 2 mi · Schistose Lake 4 mi · Phinney Lake 4 mi · Sandhill Lake 4 mi · Bethune Lake 4 mi · Dash Lake 5 mi · Helena Lake 6 mi · Dad Lake 6 mi · Pipestone Lake 6 mi · South Otterskin L. 6 mi · Campbell Lake 7 mi
See how Derby Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake trout 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.