Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore: what the data says
274,365-acre section. Manitoulin Island's Georgian Bay shore. Manitowaning Bay and South Bay. across to Killarney and Collins Inlet under the La Cloche hills: lakers and whitefish on the deep edges, walleye and pike in the bays, muskie in the inlet. The lake tops out around 353 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Lake Trout fishing at Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 120 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 10 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. They move out to 40 to 90 ft in summer and finish the year down in 25 to 70 ft. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in fall. Best bite is early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. They move out to 50 to 120 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 90 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Collins Inlet (Mahzenazing River): a inflow / creek mouth around 33 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. Rock reef is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Shoreline point, a point in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in fall. 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 | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore also holds walleye (15 to 35 ft in summer), yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer), muskellunge (8 to 25 ft in summer), rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 352 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 261 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 155 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 114 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 114 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 90 ft
- Collins Inlet (Mahzenazing River): inflow / creek mouth, around 33 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 31 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 15 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 15 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 13 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 13 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 11 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 11 ft
Common questions
How deep is Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore?
Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore is about 353 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, rainbow trout, muskellunge, yellow perch, chinook salmon, lake trout, lake whitefish, rock bass on Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore.
Where is the best fishing spot on Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore?
Rock reef is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore?
For lake trout, 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.
Nearby waters
The Three Lakes · Burke Lake · Lake Manitou · Iroquois Bay · Cave Lake · Lumsden Lake
See how Georgian Bay - Manitoulin & Killarney Shore stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best rainbow trout lakes in Ontario
Browse all Ontario fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA hydrographic surveys. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.