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871-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 26 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 1982 (an MNRF lake survey). Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 870 acres, worked by 4.8 miles of shoreline. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.2) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.8 mi with a 1.1-mi widest point. It sits in Kenora District. If the bite dies, Wenasaga Lake is 4 mi to the northeast.
Start shallow in spring: cisco (lake herring) sit in 7 to 26 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 8 to 26 ft covers summer, 8 to 26 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. 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 | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 26 ft before dropping to 8 to 26 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
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 feeding flat (12 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. Summer is an 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 1 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run 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 | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (12 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (12 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (12 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The chart marks 7 structure features on Detector Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 22 ft.
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 Detector Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Detector Lake is about 26 ft (8 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1982 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, northern pike on Detector Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For cisco (lake herring), 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 Detector 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.
Wenasaga Lake 4 mi · English River 5 mi · Emarton Lake 8 mi · Cramp Lake 8 mi · Gleave Lake 9 mi · Camping Lake 9 mi · Chilcott Lake 11 mi · East Lake 13 mi · Pakwash Lake 13 mi · Barnston Lake 14 mi · Snail Lake 14 mi · Feaver Lake 14 mi
See how Detector Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) 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.