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Rating depth structure for lake trout.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
165-acre lake in Nipissing District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 85 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, Hand Lake runs 166 acres with 5.8 miles of edge. An index of 3.2 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. 57% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 1.3 mi end to end and 0.6 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Nipissing District. For a second option, Kennedy Lake lies 1 mi northeast.
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 26 to 85 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 72 ft, rated prime for summer lake trout. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (21 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 26 to 85 ft | dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (21 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring pumpkinseed on Hand Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 2 to 10 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 18 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 6 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 72 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 Hand Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Hand Lake is about 85 ft (26 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.
Anglers target lake trout, pumpkinseed on Hand Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 72 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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.
Fishing on Hand 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 1 mi · Weever Lake 4 mi · Lac à Brochets 5 mi · Clearview Lake 5 mi · Marymac Lake 5 mi · Thistle Lake 6 mi · Deschamps Lake 6 mi · Sinton Lake 6 mi · Clem Lake 6 mi · Indian Trail Lake 6 mi · Pine Lake 6 mi · Silver Lake 7 mi
See how Hand Lake stacks up: best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best pumpkinseed lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Nipissing District fishing maps (683 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.