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Rating depth structure for lake whitefish.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
394-acre lake near ᒥᐢᑎᑯᐢᑳᐤ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ Big Island Lake. The lake tops out around 44 ft. The depth chart comes from Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 393 acres wrapped in 3.4 miles of bank. At index 1.2 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 53% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 1.2 mi long by 0.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. Division No. 17 claims this one. Cold Lake sits 10 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 13 to 44 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 13 to 44 ft covers summer, 13 to 44 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 37 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 44 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 13 to 44 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (37 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 13 to 44 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (37 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 5 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (11 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (37 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 5 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (37 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (37 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 37 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Saskatchewan waters are set by the Saskatchewan anglers' guide — and special regulations can apply to Hirtz Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Saskatchewan fishing regulations →
Hirtz Lake is about 44 ft (13 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target lake whitefish, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch on Hirtz Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 37 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.
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.
Fishing on Hirtz Lake is regulated by the Saskatchewan anglers' guide. Check the official Saskatchewan regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cold Lake 10 mi, AB/SK · Marie Lake 22 mi, AB · Ethel Lake 22 mi, AB · Pebble Lake 25 mi · Hilda Lake 25 mi, AB · De Balinhard Lake 25 mi · May Lake 28 mi, AB · Angling Lake 29 mi, AB · Crane Lake 29 mi, AB · Mistohay Lake 29 mi · Branch Lake 30 mi · Tucker Lake 32 mi, AB
See how Hirtz Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Saskatchewan · best northern pike lakes in Saskatchewan · best yellow perch lakes in Saskatchewan · best lake whitefish lakes in Saskatchewan
More water nearby: Division No. 17 fishing maps (39 charts). Browse all Saskatchewan fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Lake maps. 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.