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5,502-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 72 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.
Little Vermilion Lake maps at 5,527 acres behind 68.7 miles of shoreline, broken up by 41 islands. The 6.6 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. 30% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 8.3 mi, about 2.7 mi across. Kenora District claims this one. Cedarbough Lake sits 2 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
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.
Early season lake trout use the shallows, holding in 10 to 40 ft. Summer is a 22 to 72 ft game here, winter an 18 to 72 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 72 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (37 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 22 to 72 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (6 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 18 to 72 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring puts cisco (lake herring) in skinny water — 10 to 40 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 22 to 72 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 72 ft, rated prime for summer cisco (lake herring). Plan around early morning in the warm months. 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (37 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 22 to 72 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (5 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Sharp break (41 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring muskellunge on Little Vermilion Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 9 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (37 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Spring northern pike on Little Vermilion Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 6 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in 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 | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring puts rock bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 12 to 30 ft. Rock reef is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring rock bass. Plan around the evening in the warm months. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Rock reef (5 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Rock reef (5 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 12 to 30 ft | midday | Break off the point (9 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Spring smallmouth bass on Little Vermilion Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. The chart's best answer is Rock reef — rock pile, 5 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (41 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Little Vermilion Lake also holds walleye (15 to 35 ft in summer), lake whitefish (22 to 72 ft in summer), yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 13 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 72 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 72 ft (22 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target lake trout, cisco (lake herring), muskellunge, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, lake whitefish, yellow perch on Little Vermilion Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 72 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 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.
Cedarbough Lake 2 mi · Diene Lake 3 mi · Misfit Lake 3 mi · Hamilton Lake 3 mi · Butterfly Lake 4 mi · Big Vermilion Lake 4 mi · Boot Lake 5 mi · Jackfish Lake 6 mi · Hannah Lake 7 mi · Minnitaki Lake 7 mi · Highway Lake 7 mi · Hooch Lake 8 mi
See how Little Vermilion Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best muskellunge 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.