Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
54-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 31 ft. This chart interpolates between a real shoreline and a known maximum depth. It will point you at likely water, but it is not a navigation product. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 54 acres wrapped in 2.1 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 76% of this chart, as modeled. Figure 0.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.4 mi at the beam. Thunder Bay District claims this one. Rogers Lake sits 3 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Come spring, look for brook trout tight to the bank in 2 to 15 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 26 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (26 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (14 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Early season splake use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Summer is a 9 to 31 ft game here, winter a 7 to 31 ft one. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 14 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) and you're in the game.
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 | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (14 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 7 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Break off the point (14 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter a 6 to 31 ft one. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 14 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
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 | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (14 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 6 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (14 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Hartley L.; the deepest is Deep basin at about 26 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 Hartley L. specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Hartley L. is about 31 ft (9 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 brook trout, splake, rainbow trout on Hartley L..
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For brook trout, 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 Hartley L. 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.
Rogers Lake 3 mi · Gamsby Lake 4 mi · Lally Lake 4 mi · Wintering Lake 7 mi · Baton Lake 7 mi · Wig Lake 8 mi · Finlayson Lake 8 mi · Goldfield Lake 12 mi · Tomahawk Lake 13 mi · Long Lake 15 mi · Gathering Lake 15 mi · Mosher Lake 16 mi
See how Hartley L. stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Ontario · best brook trout lakes in Ontario · best splake lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps. 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.