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676-acre lake in Rainy River District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 37 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Drawn out, this is 676 acres of water rimmed by 13.2 miles of bank, broken up by an island. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 3.6) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 94% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 4.1 mi with a 1.2-mi widest point. You'll find it in Rainy River District. The nearest mapped water is Matson Lake, 1 mi to the south.
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 11 to 37 ft. Through summer count on 11 to 37 ft; the winter hold is 11 to 37 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 30 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 | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Come spring, look for cisco (lake herring) tight to the bank in 9 to 37 ft. Through summer count on 11 to 37 ft; the winter hold is 11 to 37 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 30 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.
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 | 9 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring walleye on Melema 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 11 to 37 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 30 ft, prime for winter. 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).
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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (30 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 Deep basin — deep basin, 30 ft, prime for fall. 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 (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (30 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 Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 1 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 (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Break off the point (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 11 to 37 ft. The depth story barely changes: 11 to 37 ft through summer, 9 to 37 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 30 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 | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 9 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 30 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Geospatial Ontario - Fishing Access Points. 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 Melema Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Melema Lake is about 37 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. 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.
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Melema Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Melema 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.
Matson Lake 1 mi · Lance Lake 3 mi · Upham Lake 3 mi · Magnetic Lake 4 mi · Whiskeyjack Lake 4 mi · Kawene Lake 5 mi · Companion Lakes 6 mi · Seine River 6 mi · Mercutio Lake 7 mi · Sapawe Lake 7 mi · Crooked Pine Lake 7 mi · Keckush Lake 7 mi
See how Melema 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: Rainy River District fishing maps (257 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.