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Rating depth structure for burbot.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
4,922-acre lake near Frains. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from Alberta Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Drawn out, this is 4,911 acres of water rimmed by 34.9 miles of bank, with 2 islands in the mix. An index of 3.6 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Roughly 96% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 6.2 mi, about 4.4 mi across. You'll find it in Division No. 13. For a second option, Amisk Lake lies 7 mi southwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 6 to 20 ft. The depth story barely changes: 6 to 20 ft through summer, 5 to 20 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 20 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 | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Come spring, look for cisco (lake herring) tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Through summer count on 6 to 20 ft; the winter hold is 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 20 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 | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Gravel shoal 1 (4 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 6 to 20 ft. Through summer count on 6 to 20 ft; the winter hold is 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 20 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 | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Gravel shoal 1 (4 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Gravel shoal 1 (4 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 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. Fall northern pike concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off 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 (1 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 | Break off the point (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shoreline point 2 (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring walleye on North Buck Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. The chart's best answer is Gravel shoal 1 — gravel shoal, 4 ft, prime for spring. 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 | Gravel shoal 1 (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 6 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 20 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.
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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Gravel shoal 2 (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The chart marks 12 structure features on North Buck Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 20 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Alberta waters are set by the Alberta fishing regulations — and special regulations can apply to North Buck Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alberta fishing regulations →
North Buck Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Alberta Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target burbot, cisco (lake herring), lake whitefish, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch on North Buck Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 North Buck Lake is regulated by the Alberta fishing regulations. Check the official Alberta regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Amisk Lake 7 mi · Dakin Lake 7 mi · Skeleton Lake 8 mi · Charron Lake 12 mi · Lac la Biche 24 mi · Cache Lake 26 mi · Hanmore Lake 26 mi · Claude Lake 27 mi · Beaver Lake 29 mi · Square Lake 33 mi · Whitefish Lake 34 mi · Smoky Lake 35 mi
See how North Buck Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Alberta · best northern pike lakes in Alberta · best yellow perch lakes in Alberta · best lake whitefish lakes in Alberta
More water nearby: Division No. 13 fishing maps (20 charts). Browse all Alberta fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: Alberta Geological Survey, Lake bathymetry. 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.