Forbes Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (ON)

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Lake depth chart

Forbes Lake, ON

Max 16 ft

Today's read

Where to start

Hopper & ant season (windward banks) window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Hopper & ant season (windward banks)Active window

Typical here: Jul 1 – Sep 15 · hoppers peak July–August; winged-ant falls show up on warm humid afternoons — a wind event, not a hatch

adultwarm, breezy afternoons, roughly 1–5pm — slap the imitation down hard — the splat is the trigger — then wait; count to three after the rise before setting

Work the windward bank on breezy summer afternoons — that's where the food is. Casting-bubble-and-hopper is the direct translation; otherwise run small topwaters and inline spinners tight along the grass edges and blowdown banks in the afternoon warmth.

The event happens over windward grassy banks, overhanging brush and blowdowns — wherever the breeze dumps the bugs

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.

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Recent catches at Forbes Lake

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Forbes Lake on the board.

Fishing Forbes Lake: what the data says

9-acre lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 16 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.

On the chart, Forbes Lake draws 9 acres inside 0.8 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.8) — enough points and pockets to pattern. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 78% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. The water lies in Parry Sound District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Heaslip Lake, 1 mi southeast of here.

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Forbes Lake

The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 16 ft, wintering in 5 to 16 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 8 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	5 to 16 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (7 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	5 to 16 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	5 to 16 ft	midday	Break off the point (7 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 3 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 14 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 14 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 7 ft

Forbes Lake 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 Forbes Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Forbes Lake?

Forbes Lake is about 16 ft (5 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 Forbes Lake?

Anglers target smallmouth bass on Forbes Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on Forbes Lake?

Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Forbes Lake?

For smallmouth bass, 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.

What are the fishing regulations for Forbes Lake?

Fishing on Forbes 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.

Nearby waters

Heaslip Lake 1 mi · Long Lake 1 mi · Home Lake 2 mi · Cramadog Lake 2 mi · Faris Lake 2 mi · Carruthers Lake 2 mi · Haines Lake 2 mi · McNutt Lake 3 mi · Tatai Lake 3 mi · Capton Lake 3 mi · Martin Lake 3 mi · Santa Lake 3 mi

See how Forbes Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario

More water nearby: Parry Sound District fishing maps (441 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.