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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
6,773-acre lake in Cochrane District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 3 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 1978, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The outline encloses 6,804 acres, worked by 29.7 miles of shoreline — 3 islands included. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.6) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Tip to tip the water measures near 7.3 mi with a 3.4-mi widest point. Cochrane District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, North Sandbank Lake, is 11 mi to the east.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official Ontario MNRF Fish ON-Line record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 1 to 3 ft. Summer keeps them at 1 to 3 ft, and they winter in 1 to 3 ft. Summer lake whitefish concentrate at Deep basin, a good-rated deep basin around 3 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
In spring, cisco (lake herring) run shallow here, mostly 1 to 3 ft. Summer keeps them at 1 to 3 ft, and they winter in 1 to 3 ft. Spring cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a good-rated deep basin around 3 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 | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (3 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 1 to 3 ft. The depth story barely changes: 1 to 3 ft through summer, 1 to 3 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 2 ft range, good in fall. Time it for the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
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 | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (2 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 1 to 3 ft. Even in summer they hold at 1 to 3 ft; winter keeps them in 1 to 3 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 2 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.
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 | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
11 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 3 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 Jaab Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Jaab Lake is about 3 ft (1 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1978, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, northern pike on Jaab Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 3 ft of water that rates good 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 Jaab 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.
North Sandbank Lake 11 mi · Sandbank Lake 12 mi · Pledger Lake 36 mi · Martison Lake 52 mi · Trilsbeck Lake 52 mi · Pitukupi Lake 60 mi · Hambly No. 13 61 mi · Hambly Lake 12 63 mi · Wawa Lakes 67 mi · Campbell Lake 68 mi · McLeister Lake 77 mi · Wanzatika Lake 82 mi
See how Jaab Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Cochrane District fishing maps (673 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.