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13,747-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 15 ft. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Drawn out, this is 13,809 acres of water rimmed by 39.2 miles of bank, with 17 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. End to end it runs roughly 8.7 mi, about 6.4 mi across. The water lies in Kenora District. The nearest mapped water is Sakwaso Lake, 7 mi to the north.
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 5 to 15 ft. Through summer count on 5 to 15 ft; the winter hold is 5 to 15 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 10 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Come spring, look for cisco (lake herring) tight to the bank in 4 to 15 ft. Through summer count on 5 to 15 ft; the winter hold is 5 to 15 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 10 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring walleye on Nikip Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 5 to 15 ft in summer, 5 to 15 ft once it turns cold. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 5 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline point (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Come spring, look for sauger tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. Through summer count on 5 to 15 ft; the winter hold is 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 10 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (3 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 5 to 15 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 10 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for fall northern pike. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 5 to 15 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 |
Nikip Lake also holds rock bass (4 to 15 ft in summer), burbot (5 to 15 ft in summer), lake sturgeon (5 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Nikip Lake carries 9 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 10 ft down.
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 Nikip Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Nikip Lake is about 15 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, sauger, yellow perch, northern pike, rock bass, burbot, lake sturgeon on Nikip Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 Nikip 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.
Sakwaso Lake 7 mi · Petownikip Lake 9 mi · Weagamow Lake 23 mi · Windigo Lake 27 mi · McCoy Lake 29 mi · Farner Lake 30 mi · Greenshields Lake 39 mi · Pakhoan Lake 40 mi · Odlum Lake 42 mi · Seeseep Lake 43 mi · Munekun Lake 45 mi · Helm Lake 48 mi
See how Nikip 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 or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.