Lake depth chart
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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
615-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 26 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 1977, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The outline encloses 616 acres, worked by 9.5 miles of shoreline. An index of 2.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 90% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 2.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.1 mi at the beam. Kenora District claims this one. Zeller Lake sits 1 mi northeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring puts lake whitefish in skinny water — 8 to 26 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 8 to 26 ft, and winter fish hold in 8 to 26 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for summer lake whitefish. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon covers the summer program.
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 | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Secondary point (6 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts cisco (lake herring) in skinny water — 7 to 26 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 8 to 26 ft, and winter fish hold in 8 to 26 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for spring cisco (lake herring). Plan around early morning in the warm months. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic covers the summer program.
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 | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 26 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 26 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (6 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 26 ft, wintering in 8 to 26 ft. Spring yellow perch concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 4 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
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 (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Pahkayyahkahmahshek/Zeller Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 4 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Secondary point (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 20 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 Pahkayyahkahmahshek/Zeller Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Pahkayyahkahmahshek/Zeller Lake is about 26 ft (8 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1977, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike on Pahkayyahkahmahshek/Zeller Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The interactive chart above rates every 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 Pahkayyahkahmahshek/Zeller 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.
Zeller Lake 1 mi · Madden Lake 12 mi · Harling Lake 13 mi · Goose Lake 14 mi · Silcox Lake 18 mi · Mamakwash Lake 21 mi · Southwest Lake 21 mi · Willis Lake 22 mi · Matchett Lake 22 mi · MacDowell Lake 24 mi · Murfitt Lake 25 mi · Tutu Lake 28 mi
See how Pahkayyahkahmahshek/Zeller 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.