Gwatkin Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (ON)

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Lake depth chart

Gwatkin Lake, ON

Max 35 ft

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Where to start

Hopper & ant season (windward banks) window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Hopper & ant season (windward banks)Active window

Typical here: Jul 1 – Sep 15 · hoppers peak July–August; winged-ant falls show up on warm humid afternoons — a wind event, not a hatch

adultwarm, breezy afternoons, roughly 1–5pm — slap the imitation down hard — the splat is the trigger — then wait; count to three after the rise before setting

Work the windward bank on breezy summer afternoons — that's where the food is. Casting-bubble-and-hopper is the direct translation; otherwise run small topwaters and inline spinners tight along the grass edges and blowdown banks in the afternoon warmth.

The event happens over windward grassy banks, overhanging brush and blowdowns — wherever the breeze dumps the bugs

Fall shiner runActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Oct 31 · same push on the Ontario side — Simcoe's shiners migrate shallow as the water cools, and the predators ride with them

adultdaylight for the jig bite; after dark the shiners stack under dock lights with walleyes and pike mixed right in — follow the bait, not the spot — millions of shiners move together and the predators ride with them; silver profile and flash matter

Concentrates hard but travels — the school (and the walleyes under it) can be off a river mouth one week and miles upriver the next.

Jig-and-minnow is the event's signature — a frozen emerald shiner on a 1/4 oz jig drifted along the run; silver jerkbaits and trolled crankbaits take the roaming fish; blade baits under the schools.

The event happens over river mouths and the first miles upriver, warming shallow shorelines, and rocky points where the displaced bait stacks

Next on this water

Hex (giant mayfly) · mayflyMay 25 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

June mayfly hatch (walleye lakes) · mayflyJun 1 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Gwatkin Lake

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Gwatkin Lake on the board.

Fishing Gwatkin Lake: what the data says

61-acre lake in Renfrew County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 35 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.

Drawn out, this is 61 acres of water rimmed by 2.6 miles of bank. An index of 2.4 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 64% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 0.8 mi, about 0.2 mi across. You'll find it in Renfrew County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Sturgeon Lake, 0 mi north of here.

Lake Whitefish fishing at Gwatkin Lake

Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 11 to 35 ft. Even in summer they hold at 11 to 35 ft; winter keeps them in 11 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 30 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	11 to 35 ft	midday & dawn	Break off the point (16 ft)	Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small)
Summer	11 to 35 ft	dawn	Deep basin (30 ft)	Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon
Fall	8 to 30 ft	dusk	Break off the point (16 ft)	Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva
Winter	11 to 35 ft	midday & dawn	Deep basin (30 ft)	Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie

Northern Pike fishing at Gwatkin Lake

Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. 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 (4 ft)	#5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white)
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (16 ft)	Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage
Fall	6 to 18 ft	midday & dawn	Break off the point (16 ft)	Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait
Winter	5 to 15 ft	midday	Shallow bay flat (4 ft)	Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Gwatkin Lake

Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 11 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 9 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig until the fish tell you otherwise.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (9 ft)	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	10 to 30 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (16 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	8 to 25 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (9 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	11 to 35 ft	midday	Break off the point (16 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Rock Bass fishing at Gwatkin Lake

Early season rock bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 5 to 20 ft game here, winter a 12 to 30 ft one. The chart's best answer is Main-lake point — point, 9 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is the evening. Tie on a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (9 ft)	1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner
Summer	5 to 20 ft	dusk	Main-lake point (9 ft)	Ned rig (small), Marabou jig
Fall	8 to 22 ft	midday	Break off the point (16 ft)	Small tube jig, Inline spinner
Winter	12 to 30 ft	midday	Deep basin (30 ft)	Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 30 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 30 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 16 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 9 ft
Secondary point: point, around 9 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft

Gwatkin Lake fishing regulations

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 Gwatkin Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Gwatkin Lake?

Gwatkin Lake is about 35 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Gwatkin Lake?

Anglers target lake whitefish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, rock bass on Gwatkin Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on Gwatkin Lake?

Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 30 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.

When is the best time to fish Gwatkin Lake?

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.

What are the fishing regulations for Gwatkin Lake?

Fishing on Gwatkin 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.

Nearby waters

Sturgeon Lake 0 mi · Perch Lake 2 mi · Thompson Lake 2 mi · Maskinonge Lake 3 mi · Thomas Lake 3 mi · Maunsell Lake 3 mi · Blackduck Lake 3 mi · Corry Lake 3 mi · Big Rat Lake 5 mi · Mill Lake 5 mi · Mackenzie Lake 5 mi · Rutherford Lake 6 mi

See how Gwatkin Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario · best rock bass lakes in Ontario

More water nearby: Renfrew County fishing maps (298 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.