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372-acre lake in Algoma District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 43 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 1975, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Drawn out, this is 374 acres of water rimmed by 4.5 miles of bank, with 2 islands in the mix. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.7) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Roughly 60% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 1.4 mi, about 0.8 mi across. The water lies in Algoma District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Jarvey Lake, 2 mi south of here.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official Ontario MNRF Fish ON-Line record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 | Break off the point (19 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (19 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 |
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 13 to 43 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 13 to 43 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 43 ft. Spring burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 42 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
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 | 13 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (42 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 13 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (42 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 13 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (42 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 11 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (42 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 42 ft.
Access data: Geospatial Ontario - Fishing Access Points; Government of Ontario - MNR Unpatented Crown Land Shoreline; Government of Ontario - MNR Unpatented Crown Land Shoreline. 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 Gibson Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Gibson Lake is about 43 ft (13 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1975, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target northern pike, burbot on Gibson Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 42 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For northern pike, 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.
Fishing on Gibson 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.
Jarvey Lake 2 mi · Pokei Lake 7 mi · North McCrea Lake 8 mi · Obatanga Lake 10 mi · Knife Lake 11 mi · Bogle Lake 13 mi · Cotton Lake 13 mi · Burnfield Lake 14 mi · Ellen Lake 14 mi · West Kabenung Lake 14 mi · Kabenung Lake 17 mi · Mishi Lake 18 mi
See how Gibson Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Algoma District fishing maps (1026 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.