James Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (Nipissing District, ON)

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Lake depth chart

James Lake, ON

Max 87 ft

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Where to start

Hopper & ant season (windward banks) window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Hopper & ant season (windward banks)Active window

Typical here: Jul 1 – Sep 15 · hoppers peak July–August; winged-ant falls show up on warm humid afternoons — a wind event, not a hatch

adultwarm, breezy afternoons, roughly 1–5pm — slap the imitation down hard — the splat is the trigger — then wait; count to three after the rise before setting

Work the windward bank on breezy summer afternoons — that's where the food is. Casting-bubble-and-hopper is the direct translation; otherwise run small topwaters and inline spinners tight along the grass edges and blowdown banks in the afternoon warmth.

The event happens over windward grassy banks, overhanging brush and blowdowns — wherever the breeze dumps the bugs

Fall shiner runActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Oct 31 · same push on the Ontario side — Simcoe's shiners migrate shallow as the water cools, and the predators ride with them

adultdaylight for the jig bite; after dark the shiners stack under dock lights with walleyes and pike mixed right in — follow the bait, not the spot — millions of shiners move together and the predators ride with them; silver profile and flash matter

Concentrates hard but travels — the school (and the walleyes under it) can be off a river mouth one week and miles upriver the next.

Jig-and-minnow is the event's signature — a frozen emerald shiner on a 1/4 oz jig drifted along the run; silver jerkbaits and trolled crankbaits take the roaming fish; blade baits under the schools.

The event happens over river mouths and the first miles upriver, warming shallow shorelines, and rocky points where the displaced bait stacks

Next on this water

Hex (giant mayfly) · mayflyMay 25 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

June mayfly hatch (walleye lakes) · mayflyJun 1 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at James Lake

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put James Lake on the board.

Fishing James Lake: what the data says

62-acre lake in Nipissing District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 87 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:

On the chart, James Lake draws 62 acres inside 2.3 miles of shoreline. Index 2 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Roughly 46% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 0.6 mi end to end and 0.5 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Nipissing District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Wright Lake, 1 mi north of here.

Yellow Perch fishing at James Lake

Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 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. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.

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	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm
Fall	12 to 35 ft	midday	Break off the point (39 ft)	Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader
Winter	15 to 35 ft	midday & dawn	Deep basin (74 ft)	Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small)

Smallmouth Bass fishing at James Lake

In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 45 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 22 ft, rated prime for fall smallmouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dawn & dusk	open water	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	10 to 30 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (22 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	8 to 25 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (22 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	20 to 45 ft	midday	Break off the point (39 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Rock Bass fishing at James Lake

Come spring, look for rock bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 5 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 12 to 30 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 22 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	midday & dawn	open water	1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner
Summer	5 to 20 ft	dusk	Main-lake point (22 ft)	Ned rig (small), Marabou jig
Fall	8 to 22 ft	midday	Main-lake point (22 ft)	Small tube jig, Inline spinner
Winter	12 to 30 ft	midday	Deep basin (74 ft)	Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike

Notable structure

Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 74 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 74 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 39 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 22 ft
Secondary point: point, around 22 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft

James Lake fishing regulations

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 James Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is James Lake?

James Lake is about 87 ft (27 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.

What fish are in James Lake?

Anglers target yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rock bass on James Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on James Lake?

Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish James Lake?

For yellow perch, 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.

What are the fishing regulations for James Lake?

Fishing on James 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.

Nearby waters

Wright Lake 1 mi · Green Lake 1 mi · Talon Lake 4 mi · Smith Lake 4 mi · Crooked Chute Lake 4 mi · Sheedy Lake 5 mi · Teesdale Lake 5 mi · Moore Lake 5 mi · Perron Lake 6 mi · Cahill Lake 6 mi · La Chapelle Lake 6 mi · Gauvreau Lake 6 mi

See how James Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best rock bass lakes in Ontario

More water nearby: Nipissing District fishing maps (683 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or 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.