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243-acre lake in Muskoka District Municipality, Ontario. The lake tops out around 60 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1976, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The drawn water covers 244 acres wrapped in 5.5 miles of bank, broken up by 2 islands. With a shoreline index of 2.5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 50% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 1 mi with a 1-mi widest point. It sits in Muskoka District Municipality. Thorne Lake sits 1 mi east — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring puts cisco (lake herring) in skinny water — 10 to 40 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 18 to 60 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Summer cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 60 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (43 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 18 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (60 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (60 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| 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 | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (9 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (43 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (60 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring smallmouth bass on Hardy Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 10 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (43 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts pumpkinseed in skinny water — 1 to 8 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 2 to 10 ft, wintering in 6 to 18 ft. Spring pumpkinseed concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 3 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. A micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (9 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 60 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 Hardy Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Hardy Lake is about 60 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1976, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed on Hardy Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 60 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For cisco (lake herring), 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 Hardy 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.
Thorne Lake 1 mi · Black Lake 1 mi · Lake Muskoka 2 mi · Clear Lake 2 mi · Gullwing Lake 2 mi · Echo Lake 3 mi · Pigeon Lake 4 mi · Long Lake 4 mi · Bastedo Lake 5 mi · Nine Mile Lake 5 mi · Deer Lake 5 mi · Spiers Lake 5 mi
See how Hardy Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario · best pumpkinseed lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Muskoka District Municipality fishing maps (276 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.