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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
353-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 24 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 1986 (an MNRF lake survey). What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Traced from the shoreline, Philchub Lake runs 352 acres with 5.9 miles of edge. A development index of 2.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Figure 1.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.8 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Kenora District. The nearest mapped water is Okanse Lake, 3 mi to the northwest.
Come spring, look for cisco (lake herring) tight to the bank in 6 to 24 ft. Through summer count on 7 to 24 ft; the winter hold is 7 to 24 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 19 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 6 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (19 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring walleye on Philchub Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 24 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 24 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 7 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
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 | Break off the point (7 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 7 to 24 ft game here, winter a 7 to 24 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 19 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
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 (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. Fall northern pike concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 7 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage most summer days.
| 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 (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 19 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 Philchub Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Philchub Lake is about 24 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1986 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike on Philchub Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For cisco (lake herring), 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 Philchub 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.
Okanse Lake 3 mi · Perrigo Lake 4 mi · Mukukee L. 5 mi · Boomerang L. 7 mi · Premier Lake 8 mi · Washagomis Lake 8 mi · Grace Lake 8 mi · Confederation Lake 8 mi · Uchi Lake 9 mi · Swain Lake 9 mi · Woman Lake 10 mi · Little Woman L. 11 mi
See how Philchub Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) 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.