Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
652-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 51 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 653 acres wrapped in 8.2 miles of bank. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.3) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 35% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 2.3 mi with a 0.9-mi widest point. Kenora District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Upper Medicine Stone Lake, is 6 mi to the west.
In spring, cisco (lake herring) run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 51 ft before dropping to 15 to 51 ft for winter. Summer cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 43 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (43 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 15 to 51 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (43 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 15 to 51 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (43 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (23 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 6 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Insect Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 43 ft down.
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 Insect Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Insect Lake is about 51 ft (16 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 cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, northern pike on Insect Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 43 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For cisco (lake herring), 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 Insect 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.
Upper Medicine Stone Lake 6 mi · Tack Lake 6 mi · Flat Lake 6 mi · Faulkenham Lake 6 mi · Dedee Lake 7 mi · Russett Lake 7 mi · Spire's L. 8 mi · Stone Lake 8 mi · Medicine Stone Lake 8 mi · Parker Lake 9 mi · Laird Lake 10 mi · Suffel Lake 11 mi
See how Insect Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Kenora District fishing maps (1173 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.