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1,393-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 33 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. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
The drawn water covers 1,397 acres wrapped in 10.6 miles of bank, with 4 islands in the mix. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Call it 2.2 mi long by 1.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. Thunder Bay District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Fairchild Lake, is 3 mi to the north.
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 33 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 33 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 13 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.
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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (13 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 10 to 33 ft. Fall yellow perch concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 13 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Houghton 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 | open water | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (13 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 10 to 33 ft. Even in summer they hold at 10 to 33 ft; winter keeps them in 8 to 33 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 13 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is after dark and midday. Tie on a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 8 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 13 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Houghton Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Houghton Lake is about 33 ft (10 m) deep at its deepest point. 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.
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Houghton Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 Houghton 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.
Fairchild Lake 3 mi · Patterson L. 4 mi · Upper Port L. 4 mi · Farrington Lake 6 mi · Shoehorn L. 8 mi · Armit Lake 8 mi · Kashaweogama Lake 9 mi · Lewis Lake 9 mi · Fowler Lake 9 mi · Die Lake 11 mi · Bent Lake 11 mi · Barnard Lake 11 mi
See how Houghton Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps. 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.