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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
3,576-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 20 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 an MNRF lake survey by the Ontario MNRF. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn water covers 3,592 acres wrapped in 35.3 miles of bank, with 47 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 4.2) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. End to end it runs roughly 4.2 mi, about 2.7 mi across. It sits in Kenora District. If the bite dies, Little Bear Lake is 6 mi to the south.
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.
Spring puts lake whitefish in skinny water — 6 to 20 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 6 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Summer lake whitefish concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 19 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Gravel shoal (4 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Gravel shoal (4 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts cisco (lake herring) in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 6 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Spring cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 19 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic 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 | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (19 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Gravel shoal (4 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Gravel shoal, a gravel shoal in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. 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 | Gravel shoal (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (11 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 20 ft. Weed flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. 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 | Weed flat (5 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Joyce Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. Put Weed flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 5 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run 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 | Weed flat (5 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Weed flat (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Early season burbot use the shallows, holding in 6 to 20 ft. Even in summer they hold at 6 to 20 ft; winter keeps them in 5 to 20 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 19 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (19 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (19 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (19 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
14 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 19 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 Joyce Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Joyce Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from an MNRF lake survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Joyce Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 19 ft of water that rates prime 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 Joyce 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.
Little Bear Lake 6 mi · Narrow Lake 7 mi · Bear L. 7 mi · Rosen Lake 7 mi · Snakeweed Lake 9 mi · Little Woman L. 9 mi · Woman Lake 11 mi · Gerry Lake 11 mi · Tote L. 12 mi · Primok Lake 12 mi · Confederation Lake 12 mi · Shabu Lake 13 mi
See how Joyce 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: Kenora District fishing maps (1173 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.