Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
583-acre lake in Nipissing District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 79 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 584 acres, worked by 10 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 3) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 58% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 2.9 mi, about 1 mi across. Nipissing District claims this one. Merganser Lake sits 1 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring brook trout on North River Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 20 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 6 ft that grades good for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (36 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Come spring, look for lake trout tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 24 to 79 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 79 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 67 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 24 to 79 ft | dawn | Deep basin (67 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 79 ft | dawn | Deep basin (67 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake whitefish in 15 to 45 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 24 to 79 ft before dropping to 25 to 70 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 67 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (36 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 24 to 79 ft | dawn | Deep basin (67 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (67 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
When the water first warms, brown bullhead slide up into 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 3 to 12 ft game here, winter a 10 to 25 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (67 ft) |
Come spring, look for burbot tight to the bank in 25 to 70 ft. They move out to 24 to 79 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 67 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (67 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 24 to 79 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (67 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 24 to 79 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (67 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (67 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 67 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 River Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
North River Lake is about 79 ft (24 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, brown bullhead, burbot on North River Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 67 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. 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 River 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.
Merganser Lake 1 mi · Tecumseh Lake 4 mi · Allan Lake 5 mi · North Depot Lake 5 mi · Gilmour Lake 5 mi · Windigo Lake 6 mi · Paddy Lake 6 mi · Cedar Lake 6 mi · Clamshell Lake 7 mi · Claradeer Lake 7 mi · Deermeadow Lake 7 mi · Second Twin Pond 8 mi
See how North River Lake stacks up: best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best brook trout lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Nipissing District fishing maps (683 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.