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Rating depth structure for burbot.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
780-acre lake near Crystal Lodge. The lake tops out around 59 ft. The depth chart comes from Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, McDonald Lake runs 778 acres with 10 miles of edge, broken up by 7 islands. With a shoreline index of 2.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 54% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 2 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.3 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Division No. 18. The nearest mapped water is Key Lake, 2 mi to the northwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 18 to 59 ft. The depth story barely changes: 18 to 59 ft through summer, 15 to 59 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 50 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.
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 | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (50 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (50 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (50 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (50 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Come spring, look for cisco (lake herring) tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 18 to 59 ft in summer and finish the year down in 18 to 59 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 50 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic is the honest summer answer here.
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 | Deep basin (50 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake trout in 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 18 to 59 ft before dropping to 15 to 59 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 50 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
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 | Main-lake point (15 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (15 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 15 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 15 to 45 ft. They move out to 18 to 59 ft in summer and finish the year down in 18 to 59 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 50 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.
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 | open water | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (15 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
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 Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 6 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 | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 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 |
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 Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 6 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 | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 50 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Saskatchewan waters are set by the Saskatchewan anglers' guide — and special regulations can apply to McDonald Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Saskatchewan fishing regulations →
McDonald Lake is about 59 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target burbot, cisco (lake herring), lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, yellow perch on McDonald Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 50 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For burbot, the summer bite is best in after dark and midday. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on McDonald Lake is regulated by the Saskatchewan anglers' guide. Check the official Saskatchewan regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Key Lake 2 mi · Zimmer Lake 8 mi · Middle Foster Lake 39 mi · Lower Foster Lake 47 mi · David Lake 50 mi · Sawatzky Lake 68 mi · David Lake 87 mi · Yew Lake 93 mi · Henday Lake 94 mi · Jojay Lake 95 mi · Mcmahon Lake 97 mi · Vulture Lake 98 mi
See how McDonald Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Saskatchewan · best yellow perch lakes in Saskatchewan · best lake trout lakes in Saskatchewan · best lake whitefish lakes in Saskatchewan
More water nearby: Division No. 18 fishing maps (166 charts). Browse all Saskatchewan fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Lake maps. 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.