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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
13,522-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 a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
On the chart, Little Vermilion Lake draws 13,582 acres inside 109.9 miles of shoreline, with 62 islands in the mix. An index of 6.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 83% of this chart. Call it 13.4 mi long by 6.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Kenora District. The nearest mapped water is Corallen Lake, 9 mi to the southwest.
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 lake whitefish on Little Vermilion Lake hold shallow, usually 6 to 20 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 6 to 20 ft in summer, 6 to 20 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 20 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon.
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 | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Gravel shoal (3 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring cisco (lake herring) on Little Vermilion Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 6 to 20 ft in summer, 6 to 20 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 20 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic.
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 (20 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 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 (3 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 6 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 9 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. Keep a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
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 (3 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 (9 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 (9 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season sauger use the shallows, holding in 4 to 18 ft. Summer is a 6 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 20 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait 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 | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Gravel shoal (3 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Weed flat: a weed flat around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm rigged through the warm months.
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 (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 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 (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Weed flat, a weed flat in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 | Weed flat (4 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Weed flat (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Weed flat (7 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Little Vermilion Lake also holds rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer), burbot (6 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
12 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 20 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 Little Vermilion Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Little Vermilion Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, sauger, yellow perch, northern pike, rock bass, burbot on Little Vermilion Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Little Vermilion 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.
Corallen Lake 9 mi · Alford Lake 11 mi · Coli lake 11 mi · Odin Lake 12 mi · Anderson Lake 13 mi · Valhalla Lake 13 mi · Walsh Lake 13 mi · Hew L. 14 mi · Red Lake 14 mi · Para Lake 14 mi · Openshaw Lake 14 mi · Sidace Lake 15 mi
See how Little Vermilion Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best sauger lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch 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.