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2,965-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 66 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 1977, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Traced from the shoreline, Hurst Lake runs 2,976 acres with 44.8 miles of edge, with 6 islands in the mix. The 5.9 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 95% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 5.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 3.7 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Thunder Bay District. The nearest mapped water is Bellsmith Lake, 5 mi to the east.
Spring lake whitefish on Hurst Lake hold shallow, usually 15 to 45 ft. They move out to 20 to 66 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 66 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 53 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon.
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 | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 20 to 66 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 20 to 66 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring cisco (lake herring) on Hurst Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 20 to 66 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 53 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic.
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 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 20 to 66 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 20 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Keep a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline point (5 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (20 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 35 ft one. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 20 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Weed flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (12 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (12 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
In spring, burbot run shallow here, mostly 20 to 66 ft. Summer keeps them at 20 to 66 ft, and they winter in 15 to 60 ft. Spring burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 53 ft. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a heavy jig + cut bait most summer days.
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 | 20 to 66 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (53 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 20 to 66 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (53 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 20 to 66 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (53 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (53 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
The chart marks 12 structure features on Hurst Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 53 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 Hurst Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Hurst Lake is about 66 ft (20 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1977, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Hurst Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 53 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Hurst 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.
Bellsmith Lake 5 mi · Attwood Lake 6 mi · Auger Lake 7 mi · Faircloth Lake 11 mi · Weese Lake 12 mi · Peninsular Lake 12 mi · Walden Lake 15 mi · Chipchase Lake 15 mi · Vick Lake 15 mi · Parkhill Lake 16 mi · Studd Lake 17 mi · Sim Lake 18 mi
See how Hurst Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish 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.