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1,999-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 50 ft. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Papaonga Lake runs 2,008 acres with 20.3 miles of edge, with 6 islands in the mix. A development index of 3.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 54% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 4.3 mi, about 2.1 mi across. The water lies in Kenora District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Yapp Lake, 8 mi northeast of here.
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 15 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 50 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 50 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 50 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 (19 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (19 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Come spring, look for walleye tight to the bank in 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 15 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 19 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (19 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Come spring, look for yellow perch tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 19 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm is the honest summer answer here.
| 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 | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (19 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (19 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 15 to 50 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 15 to 50 ft, and winter fish hold in 13 to 50 ft. Spring burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 50 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 50 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (50 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (50 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 15 to 50 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (50 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 13 to 50 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (50 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 50 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 Papaonga Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Papaonga Lake is about 50 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target lake whitefish, walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Papaonga Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 50 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Papaonga 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.
Yapp Lake 8 mi · Wesley Lake 9 mi · Lightning Lake 9 mi · Jubilee Lake 9 mi · Badrock Lake 10 mi · Sharp Lake 11 mi · Raggy Lake 11 mi · Upper Slate Lake 13 mi · Jeanette Lake 14 mi · Slate Lake 14 mi · McKim L. 15 mi · Copilot Lake 15 mi
See how Papaonga 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 or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.