Lake depth chart
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22-acre lake in Lanark County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 15 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 1975, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 22 acres, worked by 0.9 miles of shoreline. At index 1.4 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.3 mi. It sits in Lanark County. Joes Lake sits 1 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. The depth story barely changes: 5 to 15 ft through summer, 5 to 15 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 5 to 15 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 3 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Early season smallmouth bass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 5 to 15 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 3 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
In spring, pumpkinseed run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for winter pumpkinseed. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Early season brown bullhead use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 10 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) |
Count 3 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 10 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 Little Joes Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Little Joes Lake is about 15 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1975, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Little Joes Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 10 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 Little Joes 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.
Joes Lake 1 mi · Green Lake 1 mi · Mann Lake 3 mi · Flower Round Lake 3 mi · Nicholson Lake 3 mi · Spectacle Lake 4 mi · Bradfords Lake 4 mi · Connors Lake 4 mi · La France Lake 4 mi · Gallagher Lake 5 mi · Peterwhite Lake 5 mi · Clay Lake 5 mi
See how Little Joes Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best pumpkinseed lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Lanark County fishing maps (74 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or 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.