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10,351-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 59 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 1978, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The drawn water covers 10,398 acres wrapped in 121.2 miles of bank, with 106 islands in the mix. The 8.5 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 72% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 8.1 mi end to end and 7.1 mi across at its widest. It sits in Kenora District. If the bite dies, Hilyard Lake is 8 mi to the southeast.
Spring puts lake whitefish in skinny water — 15 to 45 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 18 to 59 ft, wintering in 18 to 59 ft. Summer lake whitefish concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 53 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (40 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (3 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts cisco (lake herring) in skinny water — 10 to 40 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 18 to 59 ft, wintering in 18 to 59 ft. Summer cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 53 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. 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 | Break off the point (40 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (3 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (53 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 40 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (3 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (17 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (40 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (40 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Weed flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| 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 (17 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (17 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (17 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Maria Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. Put Weed flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run 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 | Weed flat (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (17 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Feeding flat (13 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake sturgeon in 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 40 ft before dropping to 18 to 59 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 53 ft of water that rates prime for lake sturgeon in winter. Plan around after dark and the evening in 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 15 ft | dusk & night | Rock reef (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | night & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | |
| Fall | 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Deep basin (53 ft) | |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deep basin (53 ft) |
The chart marks 16 structure features on Maria Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 53 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 Maria Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Maria Lake is about 59 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1978, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, lake sturgeon on Maria Lake. This isn't a survey of the lake — none is on record for it — but an informed estimate from the species Ontario's MNRF recorded in the nearest surveyed lakes, filtered to this lake's depth and habitat.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 53 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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 Maria 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.
Hilyard Lake 8 mi · Kingfisher Lake 9 mi · Assin Lake 17 mi · Wunnummin Lake 19 mi · Sims Lake 26 mi · Cordick Lake 26 mi · Unnamed Lake 30 mi · Wachusk Lake 32 mi · Unnamed Lake 32 mi · Unnamed Lake 38 mi · Long Dog Lake 38 mi · Neawagank Lake 40 mi
See how Maria 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. 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.