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874-acre lake in Algoma District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 57 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Pancake Lake runs 878 acres with 9.9 miles of edge, with 3 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 56% of this chart, as modeled. Tip to tip the water measures near 2.3 mi with a 1.4-mi widest point. You'll find it in Algoma District. The nearest mapped water is Upper Smith Lake, 2 mi to the southeast.
In spring, brook trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 20 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 26 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (26 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Spring puts lake trout in skinny water — 10 to 40 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 17 to 57 ft; cold water stacks them in 14 to 57 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 48 ft, rated prime for summer lake trout. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 17 to 57 ft | dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 14 to 57 ft | dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Winter rainbow trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 26 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (26 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (26 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 15 to 45 ft. Summer is a 17 to 57 ft game here, winter a 17 to 57 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 48 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (26 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 17 to 57 ft | dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (26 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 17 to 57 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 17 to 57 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 17 to 57 ft, and winter fish hold in 14 to 57 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 48 ft, rated prime for spring burbot. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 17 to 57 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (48 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 17 to 57 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (48 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 17 to 57 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (48 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 14 to 57 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (48 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 48 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 Pancake Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Pancake Lake is about 57 ft (17 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, rainbow trout, lake whitefish, burbot on Pancake Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 48 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Pancake 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.
Upper Smith Lake 2 mi · Middle Pancake Lake 2 mi · Upper Pancake Lake 2 mi · Brant Lake 2 mi · Cedar Lakes 3 mi · Nicolet L. 16 3 mi · Mamainse Lake 3 mi · Annie Lake 3 mi · West Joco Lake 4 mi · Joco Lake 4 mi · Pipe Lake 4 mi · Gimlet Lake 4 mi
See how Pancake Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best brook trout lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Algoma District fishing maps (1026 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.