Lake depth chart
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1,164-acre lake in Cochrane District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 25 ft. The depth chart comes from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1980 (an MNRF lake survey). The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Hopper Lake maps at 1,168 acres behind 13.6 miles of shoreline — one island included. With a shoreline index of 2.8, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The basin spans about 2.3 mi end to end and 1.8 mi across at its widest. Cochrane District claims this one. Detour Lake sits 7 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring puts lake whitefish in skinny water — 8 to 25 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish hold in 8 to 25 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 12 ft, rated prime for summer lake whitefish. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 25 ft | dusk | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (12 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring northern pike on Hopper Lake hold shallow, usually 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. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 1 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Early season burbot use the shallows, holding in 8 to 25 ft. Even in summer they hold at 8 to 25 ft; winter keeps them in 6 to 25 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 12 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is after dark and midday. Tie on a heavy jig + cut bait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (12 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (12 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (12 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 6 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (12 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 12 ft.
Access data: Geospatial Ontario - Fishing Access Points. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Hopper Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Hopper Lake is about 25 ft (8 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1980 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, walleye, northern pike, burbot on Hopper Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Hopper 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.
Detour Lake 7 mi · Little Detour Lake 10 mi · Lower Detour Lake 10 mi · Lake 20J-33 10 mi · Lawagamau Lake 15 mi · 21I-04, L. 15 mi · Upper Lawagamau Lake 19 mi · Little Kesagami Lake 25 mi · L. 18J-35 26 mi · Burntbush Lake 28 mi · L. 19H-106 28 mi · Kesagami Lake 28 mi
See how Hopper Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Cochrane District fishing maps (673 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.