Francis Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (Nipissing District, ON)

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Lake depth chart

Francis Lake, ON

Max 16 ft

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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

Next on this water

Spring bug season (brook trout lakes) · forageApr 25 – Jun 30 · in ~8 months

Hex (giant mayfly) · mayflyMay 25 – 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 Francis 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 Francis Lake on the board.

Fishing Francis Lake: what the data says

7-acre lake in Nipissing District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 16 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.

Drawn out, this is 7 acres of water rimmed by 0.6 miles of bank. Index 1.6 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 74% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 0.3 mi end to end. The water lies in Nipissing District. For a second option, Ring Lake lies 0 mi north.

Brook Trout fishing at Francis Lake

The spring pattern is a shallow one: brook trout in 2 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 16 ft before dropping to 2 to 16 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 15 ft	dawn & dusk	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon
Summer	5 to 16 ft	dawn & dusk	Deep basin (14 ft)	Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm
Fall	2 to 15 ft	midday & dawn	open water	Small spoon (orange), Spinner
Winter	2 to 16 ft	dawn	Deep basin (14 ft)	Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic

Notable structure

Francis Lake carries 4 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 14 ft down.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 14 ft
Shoreline break: drop-off, around 7 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft

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

Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Francis Lake?

Francis 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 Francis Lake?

Anglers target brook trout on Francis Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on Francis Lake?

Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.

When is the best time to fish Francis Lake?

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.

What are the fishing regulations for Francis Lake?

Fishing on Francis 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

Ring Lake 0 mi · Parks Lake 2 mi · Butler L. 697 3 mi · Little Long Lake 3 mi · Timber Lake 3 mi · Boot Lake 4 mi · Bell Lake 4 mi · Campbell Lake 4 mi · Reynolds Lake 4 mi · Little Mountain Lake 4 mi · Put and Take L. 4 mi · Mountain Lake 4 mi

See how Francis Lake stacks up: best brook trout lakes in Ontario

More water nearby: Nipissing District fishing maps (683 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.