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252-acre lake in Sudbury District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 36 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 1980 (an MNRF lake survey). Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The outline encloses 254 acres, worked by 5.4 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 2.4, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 96% of this chart. The basin spans about 1.2 mi end to end and 0.9 mi across at its widest. It sits in Sudbury District. Its nearest charted neighbour, Kennedy Lake, is 2 mi to the northwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake whitefish in 11 to 36 ft. The depth story barely changes: 11 to 36 ft through summer, 11 to 36 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 28 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 11 to 36 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 11 to 36 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (4 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 11 to 36 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cisco (lake herring) in 9 to 36 ft. The depth story barely changes: 11 to 36 ft through summer, 11 to 36 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 28 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic 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 | 9 to 36 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (28 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 11 to 36 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 11 to 36 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 11 to 36 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 4 ft that scores good in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.
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 | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 11 to 36 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (4 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 28 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 Franklin Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Franklin Lake is about 36 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1980 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), smallmouth bass on Franklin Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 28 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Franklin 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.
Kennedy Lake 2 mi · Bluewater Lake 4 mi · Marguerite Lake 5 mi · Gilbert Lake 6 mi · Bobwhite L. 6 mi · Pibroch Lake 7 mi · Bailey Lake 7 mi · Tomasina Lake 7 mi · Len Lake 7 mi · Otter Lake 7 mi · Gilden Lake 8 mi · Georgia Lake 8 mi
See how Franklin Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Sudbury District fishing maps (868 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Lake survey data (Open Government Licence – Ontario). 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.