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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
2,981-acre lake in Kenora 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. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1973, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Melgund Lake maps at 2,986 acres behind 32.2 miles of shoreline, broken up by 7 islands. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 4.2) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Tip to tip the water measures near 4.6 mi with a 2.5-mi widest point. Kenora District claims this one. Jackfish Lake sits 5 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 11 to 37 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 11 to 37 ft covers summer, 11 to 37 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 28 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | Shallow feeding flat (18 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Sharp break (8 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 11 to 37 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 28 ft, rated prime for winter walleye. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
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 | Sharp break (8 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (8 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts sauger in skinny water — 4 to 18 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 11 to 37 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 28 ft, rated prime for winter sauger. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait 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 | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (8 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (8 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Deep basin (28 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Weed flat, a weed flat in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| 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 | Deep basin (28 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 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. If you only fish one area, make it Weed flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| 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 (8 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (8 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Melgund Lake carries 12 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 28 ft down.
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 Melgund Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Melgund Lake is about 37 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1973, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, walleye, sauger, yellow perch, northern pike on Melgund Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 28 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 Melgund 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.
Jackfish Lake 5 mi · Suzanne Lake 8 mi · Mickle Lake 8 mi · Hartman Lake 9 mi · Lowery Lake 10 mi · Dinorwic Lake 10 mi · Church Lake 11 mi · Talman Lake 11 mi · Hyndman Lake 12 mi · Lost Lake 12 mi · Mennin Lake 12 mi · Big Sandy Lake 12 mi
See how Melgund Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best sauger lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch 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.