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1,282-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 25 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 1970, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 1,281 acres, worked by 14.4 miles of shoreline, broken up by an island. A development index of 2.9 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. Figure 4.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.1 mi at the beam. It sits in Thunder Bay District. Weewullee Lake sits 5 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 8 to 25 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 25 ft, and they winter in 8 to 25 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 17 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.
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 | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
In spring, cisco (lake herring) run shallow here, mostly 6 to 25 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 25 ft, and they winter in 8 to 25 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 17 ft, rated prime for spring cisco (lake herring). Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic most summer days.
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 | 6 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (17 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 25 ft before dropping to 8 to 25 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. 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.
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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (17 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 25 ft before dropping to 8 to 25 ft for winter. Fall yellow perch concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 17 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
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 bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (17 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Summer is an 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 1 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| 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 | open water | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Frank Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 17 ft down.
Access data: Geospatial Ontario - Fishing Access Points. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Frank Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Frank Lake is about 25 ft (8 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1970, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike on Frank Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For lake whitefish, 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 Frank 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.
Weewullee Lake 5 mi · Elbow Lake 7 mi · Savas Lake 8 mi · Jackson Lake 9 mi · Return Lake 14 mi · Goodwill Lake 15 mi · Lamaune L. 15 mi · North Wind Lake 22 mi · Onaman Lake 23 mi · Cecil Lake 24 mi · Andy Thompson Lake 25 mi · O'Neil Lake 25 mi
See how Frank Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 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.