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3,846-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 95 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 2006 (an MNRF lake survey). What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Lac des Iles draws 3,863 acres inside 75 miles of shoreline — 222 islands included. With a shoreline index of 8.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 41% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 6.4 mi end to end and 3.8 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Thunder Bay District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Camp Lake, 3 mi south of here.
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 29 to 95 ft before dropping to 20 to 80 ft for winter. Summer lake trout concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 78 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (25 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 29 to 95 ft | dawn | Deep basin (78 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (25 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (78 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring lake whitefish on Lac des Iles hold shallow, usually 15 to 45 ft. They move out to 40 to 90 ft in summer and finish the year down in 25 to 70 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 78 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (31 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (78 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deepest basin (77 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring cisco (lake herring) on Lac des Iles hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 40 to 80 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 78 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (78 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (77 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
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 Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 4 ft of water and rates prime come spring. 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 | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (11 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (31 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 Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 4 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 | Shallow bay flat (4 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 |
In spring, burbot run shallow here, mostly 25 to 70 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 29 to 95 ft before dropping to 15 to 60 ft for winter. Summer burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 78 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deepest basin (77 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 29 to 95 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (78 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (78 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Rock reef (2 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Count 13 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 78 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 Lac des Iles specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Lac des Iles is about 95 ft (29 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 2006 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target lake trout, lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Lac des Iles.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 78 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For lake trout, 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 Lac des Iles 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.
Camp Lake 3 mi · Vandenbrooks Lake 5 mi · Heaven Lake 6 mi · Sauerbrei Lake 7 mi · Legris Lake 8 mi · Jolly Lake 8 mi · Rinker Lake 9 mi · Whistle Lake 11 mi · Chisamore Lake 11 mi · West Lacasse Lake 13 mi · Poshkokagan Lake 15 mi · Eayrs Lake 15 mi
See how Lac des Iles stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.