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94-acre lake in Peterborough County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 40 ft. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
North Rathbun Lake maps at 95 acres behind 4.5 miles of shoreline, with 8 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 3.3, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 68% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 0.9 mi end to end and 0.7 mi across at its widest. Peterborough County claims this one. If the bite dies, Rathbun Lake is 1 mi to the southeast.
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: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 2 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 | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (38 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (38 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Secondary point: a point around 12 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (12 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Secondary point (12 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Break off the point (5 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 38 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 North Rathbun Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
North Rathbun Lake is about 40 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target yellow perch, smallmouth bass on North Rathbun Lake.
Secondary point is the top-rated area: a point in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For yellow perch, 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 North Rathbun 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.
Rathbun Lake 1 mi · Serpentine Lake 2 mi · Copper Lake 2 mi · Fagan Lake 2 mi · Sucker Lake 3 mi · Anderson Lake 3 mi · Anstruther Lake 3 mi · Little Anstruther Lake 4 mi · Bottle Lake 4 mi · Wolf Lake 4 mi · Clanricarde Lake 4 mi · Loon Call Lake 5 mi
See how North Rathbun Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Peterborough County fishing maps (83 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.