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2,628-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 40 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1977, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
On the chart, Madden Lake draws 2,640 acres inside 41.2 miles of shoreline, with 17 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 5.7) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 76% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 5.2 mi with a 4.4-mi widest point. You'll find it in Kenora District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Willis Lake, 11 mi southeast of here.
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 12 to 40 ft. Through summer count on 12 to 40 ft; the winter hold is 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 40 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 12 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (27 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Sharp break (27 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Come spring, look for cisco (lake herring) tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. Through summer count on 12 to 40 ft; the winter hold is 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 40 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (27 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring walleye on Madden Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 27 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (3 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (27 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (27 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Weed flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (27 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (27 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. Spring northern pike concentrate at Weed flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 3 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (3 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Weed flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 12 to 40 ft. The depth story barely changes: 12 to 40 ft through summer, 10 to 40 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 40 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 12 to 40 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (40 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Madden Lake carries 11 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 40 ft down.
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 Madden Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Madden Lake is about 40 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1977, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Madden Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 40 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 Madden 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.
Willis Lake 11 mi · Zeller Lake 12 mi · Pahkayyahkahmahshek/Zeller Lake 12 mi · Goose Lake 15 mi · Southwest Lake 16 mi · Tutu Lake 18 mi · Mamakwash Lake 20 mi · MacDowell Lake 21 mi · Harling Lake 23 mi · Wigwasikak Lake 23 mi · Wavell Lake 25 mi · Silcox Lake 27 mi
See how Madden Lake 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: Kenora District fishing maps (1173 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.