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The Ottawa River through the National Capital - wide walleye and musky water in Lac Deschenes above the city, down past the Deschenes and Chaudiere rapids. Trophy muskie, walleye, pike, smallmouth and channel cats. The river tops out around 75 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Ottawa River - Ottawa/Gatineau runs 9,662 acres with 39.1 miles of edge. With a shoreline index of 2.8, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 17% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 17.8 mi end to end and 2.7 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Ottawa. For a second option, Rideau Canal (Ottawa) lies 3 mi south.
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Kettle Island point: a point around 18 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | Kettle Island point (18 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Kettle Island point (18 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Kettle Island point (18 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deschenes Rapids current seam (30 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts muskellunge in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Kettle Island point is the standout, a point at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for summer muskellunge. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Kettle Island point (18 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Kettle Island point (18 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deschenes Rapids current seam (30 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 20 to 45 ft for winter. The spot to know is Kettle Island point, a point in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Britannia bar (8 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Britannia bar (8 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Kettle Island point (18 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 4.9) (41 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Deschenes Rapids current seam, a creek channel in the 30 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Kettle Island point (18 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Kettle Island point (18 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deschenes Rapids current seam (30 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Feeding flat, a feeding flat in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 | Feeding flat (8 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Kettle Island point (18 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Deschenes Rapids current seam, a creek channel in the 30 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deschenes Rapids current seam (30 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deschenes Rapids current seam (30 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deschenes Rapids current seam (30 ft) |
Ottawa River - Ottawa/Gatineau also holds yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), white bass (8 to 25 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 12 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Main-channel hole (mile 3.1), sits near 60 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 Ontario waters are set by the Ontario fishing regulations (FMZ summary) — and special regulations can apply to Ottawa River - Ottawa/Gatineau specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Ottawa River - Ottawa/Gatineau is about 75 ft (23 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 walleye, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, channel catfish, yellow perch, crappie, white bass on Ottawa River - Ottawa/Gatineau.
Kettle Island point is the top-rated area: a point in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 Ottawa River - Ottawa/Gatineau 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.
Rideau Canal (Ottawa) 3 mi, ON · Constance Lake 15 mi, ON · Lac Gauvreau 22 mi, QC · Lac la Blanche 26 mi, QC · Lac Bernard 27 mi, QC · Lac Meikle 29 mi, QC · Lac Mayo 29 mi, QC · Lac du Cardinal 29 mi, QC · Lac de l'Argile 30 mi, QC · Lac Smallian 30 mi, QC · Lac Hawk 31 mi, QC · Lac des Loups 31 mi, QC
See how Ottawa River - Ottawa/Gatineau stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Ontario · best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best walleye lakes in Ontario · best white bass lakes in Ontario
Browse all Ontario fishing maps. 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.