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118-acre lake in Sudbury District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 59 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1978, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Dowes Lake maps at 119 acres behind 2.6 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.7) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 38% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 0.7 mi long by 0.6 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Sudbury District. If the bite dies, Loon Lake is 1 mi to the southwest.
Come spring, look for brook trout tight to the bank in 2 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 20 ft. Start at Secondary point. It's a point holding about 4 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (4 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Secondary point (4 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Spring lake trout on Dowes Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 18 to 59 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 59 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 59 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (59 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 15 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (59 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 15 to 45 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 18 to 59 ft, and winter fish settle into 18 to 59 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 59 ft, rated prime for summer lake whitefish. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (57 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (59 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (59 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 35 ft before dropping to 20 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, pumpkinseed run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 18 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring pumpkinseed. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring burbot on Dowes Lake hold shallow, usually 18 to 59 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 18 to 59 ft in summer, 15 to 59 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 59 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in after dark and midday. The summer box starts with a heavy jig + cut bait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 18 to 59 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (59 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (59 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 18 to 59 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (59 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 59 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (59 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 59 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 Dowes Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Dowes Lake is about 59 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1978, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, walleye, pumpkinseed, burbot on Dowes Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 59 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Dowes 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.
Loon Lake 1 mi · Johnson Lake 1 mi · Moon Lake 1 mi · Shoe L. 1 mi · Bannerman Lake 2 mi · Geneva Lake 3 mi · Clear Lake 3 mi · Key L. 3 mi · Soucie Lake 4 mi · Mousseau Lake 5 mi · Munster Lake 6 mi · Ulster L. 58 7 mi
See how Dowes Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best brook trout lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Sudbury District fishing maps (868 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.