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4,178-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 70 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 1973, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Otatakan Lake draws 4,197 acres inside 65.3 miles of shoreline, broken up by 9 islands. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 7.2) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 70% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 10 mi end to end and 3.5 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Kenora District. For a second option, Sharp Lake lies 5 mi west.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official Ontario MNRF Fish ON-Line record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
Spring lake whitefish on Otatakan Lake hold shallow, usually 15 to 45 ft. By summer they slide out to 21 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 25 to 70 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 48 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon.
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 | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (18 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (2 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring cisco (lake herring) on Otatakan Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 21 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 60 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 48 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic.
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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (48 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 15 to 35 ft game here, winter a 20 to 40 ft one. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 10 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. Keep a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (10 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (10 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 10 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (10 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (10 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (18 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Weed flat, a weed flat in the 2 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (9 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (9 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
In spring, burbot run shallow here, mostly 25 to 70 ft. Summer keeps them at 21 to 70 ft, and they winter in 15 to 60 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 48 ft, rated prime for spring burbot. Time it for after dark and midday. You won't need more than a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (48 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (48 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 21 to 70 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (48 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (48 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Otatakan Lake carries 16 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 48 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 Otatakan Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Otatakan Lake is about 70 ft (21 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1973, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Otatakan Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 48 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Otatakan 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.
Sharp Lake 5 mi · Anenimus Lake 7 mi · Socket Lake 8 mi · Pollock Lake 10 mi · Copilot Lake 11 mi · Wesley Lake 11 mi · Yapp Lake 11 mi · Bingo Lake 12 mi · Lightning Lake 13 mi · Polzin Lake 13 mi · Pilot Lake 14 mi · Raggy Lake 14 mi
See how Otatakan Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish 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.