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Rating depth structure for northern pike.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
894-acre lake near Swan Hills. The lake tops out around 12 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Freeman Lake maps at 892 acres behind 6.6 miles of shoreline, broken up by an island. With a 1.6 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. End to end it runs roughly 1.7 mi, about 1.4 mi across. Division No. 17 claims this one. Chrystina Lake sits 15 mi northeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Early season arctic grayling use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 2 to 12 ft game here, winter a 4 to 12 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 12 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a dry fly (parachute adams, elk hair caddis) or a small inline spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | 1/16 oz spinner (silver), Small dry fly (Adams, Griffith's) |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Dry fly (parachute Adams, elk hair caddis), Small inline spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Break off the point (11 ft) | Small spoon, Beadhead nymph under indicator |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Tungsten jig + waxworm, Small jigging spoon (gold) |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 12 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 12 ft through summer, 4 to 12 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Deep basin (12 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 12 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Alberta waters are set by the Alberta fishing regulations — and special regulations can apply to Freeman Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alberta fishing regulations →
Freeman Lake is about 12 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target arctic grayling, northern pike, yellow perch on Freeman Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for arctic grayling in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For arctic grayling, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 Freeman Lake is regulated by the Alberta fishing regulations. Check the official Alberta regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Chrystina Lake 15 mi · McLeod Lake 28 mi · Goose Lake 31 mi · Lesser Slave Lake 50 mi · Mitsue Lake 53 mi · Iosegun Lake 54 mi · Snipe Lake 58 mi · Smoke Lake 60 mi · Shiningbank Lake 61 mi · Peanut Lake 67 mi · Steele Lake 70 mi · Lac la Nonne 71 mi
See how Freeman Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Alberta · best yellow perch lakes in Alberta · best arctic grayling lakes in Alberta
More water nearby: Division No. 17 fishing maps (11 charts). Browse all Alberta fishing maps or 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.