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.
1,358-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 14 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 1979, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Lake I-291 maps at 1,369 acres behind 24.1 miles of shoreline — 5 islands included. With a shoreline index of 4.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 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 2.9 mi with a 2.2-mi widest point. Thunder Bay District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Elbow L., is 2 mi to the northwest.
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 4 to 14 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. Winter walleye concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 7 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) 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 | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (7 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 14 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (7 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for northern pike tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 4 to 14 ft, then a winter hold in 4 to 14 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 1 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for burbot tight to the bank in 4 to 14 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 14 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 7 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait is the honest summer answer here.
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 14 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (7 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (7 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (7 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (7 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cisco (lake herring) in 4 to 14 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 14 ft through summer, 4 to 14 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic 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 | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (7 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 3 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake whitefish in 4 to 14 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 14 ft through summer, 4 to 14 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 7 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 Lake I-291 specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Lake I-291 is about 14 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1979, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot, cisco (lake herring), lake whitefish on Lake I-291.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 Lake I-291 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.
Elbow L. 2 mi · Kellow Lake 4 mi · Studd Lake 6 mi · Opichuan Lake 10 mi · Whitefish Lake 10 mi · Sim Lake 11 mi · Peninsular Lake 11 mi · Faircloth Lake 11 mi · Kagianagami Lake 12 mi · Napper Lake 15 mi · Abazotikichuan Lake 16 mi · Bellsmith Lake 16 mi
See how Lake I-291 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: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 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.