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369-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 13 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 1981 (an MNRF lake survey). What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Traced from the shoreline, Openshaw Lake runs 372 acres with 11.4 miles of edge, broken up by an island. With a shoreline index of 4.2, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Figure 2 mi of water from one end to the other, 1 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Kenora District. The nearest mapped water is Woodey Lake, 3 mi to the northeast.
Spring walleye on Openshaw Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 13 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 4 to 13 ft in summer, 4 to 13 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 8 ft, prime for winter. 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 | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (8 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 4 to 13 ft game here, winter a 4 to 13 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 8 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 | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (8 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 13 ft before dropping to 4 to 13 ft for winter. Spring northern pike concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 1 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.
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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 4 to 13 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 13 ft through summer, 3 to 13 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 8 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 | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (8 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (8 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (8 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (8 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 8 ft.
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 Openshaw Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Openshaw Lake is about 13 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1981 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Openshaw Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 Openshaw 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.
Woodey Lake 3 mi · Kirkness Lake 5 mi · Odin Lake 7 mi · Stormer Lake 9 mi · Hew L. 13 mi · Valhalla Lake 13 mi · Little Vermilion Lake 14 mi · Hornblendite Lake 16 mi · Coli lake 17 mi · Martene L. 17 mi · Nungesser Lake 18 mi · Cornpicker L. 18 mi
See how Openshaw Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best burbot 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.