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3,633-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 50 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 3,642 acres, worked by 31.5 miles of shoreline, with 5 islands in the mix. An index of 3.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 65% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 5.8 mi with a 2.1-mi widest point. Thunder Bay District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Nass Lake, is 5 mi to the east.
Spring puts lake whitefish in skinny water — 15 to 45 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 50 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 50 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 43 ft, rated prime for summer lake whitefish. Plan around early morning in the warm months. 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 | Feeding flat (18 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (43 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (3 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (43 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts cisco (lake herring) in skinny water — 10 to 40 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 50 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 50 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 43 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 | Deep basin (43 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (43 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 | 15 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (43 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. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. 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 | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (43 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Spring yellow perch concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 6 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. 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 | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Weed flat (8 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (43 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (43 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Melchett 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 | Weed flat (8 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 burbot use the shallows, holding in 15 to 50 ft. Even in summer they hold at 15 to 50 ft; winter keeps them in 13 to 50 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 43 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is after dark and midday. Tie on a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 15 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (43 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (43 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 15 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (43 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 13 to 50 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (43 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
The chart marks 12 structure features on Melchett Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 43 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 Melchett Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Melchett Lake is about 50 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Melchett Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 43 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 Melchett 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.
Nass Lake 5 mi · Durer Lake 6 mi · Kayedon Lake 7 mi · Tennant Lake 7 mi · Boston Lake 12 mi · Jungfrau Lake 12 mi · Harrogate Lake 12 mi · Brace Lake 15 mi · Meta Lake 18 mi · O'Sullivan Lake 19 mi · Percy Lake 19 mi · Stewart Lake 19 mi
See how Melchett 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: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.