First L. Depth Map & Fishing Spots (ON)

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Lake depth chart

First L., ON

Max 20 ft

Today's read

Where to start

Fall shiner run window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Fall shiner runActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Oct 31 · same push on the Ontario side — Simcoe's shiners migrate shallow as the water cools, and the predators ride with them

adultdaylight for the jig bite; after dark the shiners stack under dock lights with walleyes and pike mixed right in — follow the bait, not the spot — millions of shiners move together and the predators ride with them; silver profile and flash matter

Concentrates hard but travels — the school (and the walleyes under it) can be off a river mouth one week and miles upriver the next.

Jig-and-minnow is the event's signature — a frozen emerald shiner on a 1/4 oz jig drifted along the run; silver jerkbaits and trolled crankbaits take the roaming fish; blade baits under the schools.

The event happens over river mouths and the first miles upriver, warming shallow shorelines, and rocky points where the displaced bait stacks

Next on this water

Hex (giant mayfly) · mayflyMay 25 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

June mayfly hatch (walleye lakes) · mayflyJun 1 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

Depth · ft

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Recent catches at First L.

Recent public catches load as you reach this section.

Fishing First L.: what the data says

26-acre lake in Ontario. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.

Traced from the shoreline, First L. runs 26 acres with 1 miles of edge. A shoreline index of 1.4 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 62% of this chart, as modeled. Figure 0.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.2 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Whitson Lake, 2 mi east of here.

Yellow Perch fishing at First L.

Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 6 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 17 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	midday & dawn	open water	Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank
Summer	6 to 20 ft	dawn	Deep basin (17 ft)	Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm
Fall	6 to 20 ft	midday	Deep basin (17 ft)	Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader
Winter	6 to 20 ft	midday & dawn	Deep basin (17 ft)	Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small)

Northern Pike fishing at First L.

In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. Fall northern pike concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 9 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	open water	#5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white)
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (9 ft)	Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage
Fall	6 to 18 ft	midday & dawn	Break off the point (9 ft)	Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait
Winter	5 to 15 ft	midday	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon

Pumpkinseed fishing at First L.

Come spring, look for pumpkinseed tight to the bank in 1 to 8 ft. They move out to 2 to 10 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 18 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 17 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is the evening and early morning. A micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 8 ft	midday & dusk	open water	Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin
Summer	2 to 10 ft	dusk & dawn	open water	Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly)
Fall	4 to 14 ft	dusk & dawn	Break off the point (9 ft)	Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped
Winter	6 to 18 ft	dawn	Deep basin (17 ft)	Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon

Brown Bullhead fishing at First L.

Start shallow in spring: brown bullhead sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 12 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 17 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	2 to 8 ft	dusk & night	open water
Summer	3 to 12 ft	night & dusk	open water
Fall	5 to 15 ft	dusk	Deep basin (17 ft)
Winter	6 to 20 ft	midday	Deep basin (17 ft)

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 3 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 17 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 17 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 9 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft

First L. fishing regulations

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 First L. specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is First L.?

First L. is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in First L.?

Anglers target yellow perch, northern pike, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on First L..

Where is the best fishing spot on First L.?

Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.

When is the best time to fish First L.?

For yellow perch, 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.

What are the fishing regulations for First L.?

Fishing on First L. 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.

Nearby waters

Whitson Lake 2 mi · Whitewater Lake 7 mi · Onwatin Lake 8 mi · Greens Lake 8 mi · Pigeon Lake 9 mi · Ramsey Lake 9 mi · Robinson Lake 9 mi · Nepahwin Lake 9 mi · St. Charles Lake 10 mi · Lake Labelle 10 mi · Hannah Lake 10 mi · Lake Laurentian 10 mi

See how First L. stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best pumpkinseed lakes in Ontario · best brown bullhead lakes in Ontario

More water nearby: Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury fishing maps (88 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.