Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
493-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 67 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 1988 (an MNRF lake survey). Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, Pincher Lake draws 497 acres inside 10.1 miles of shoreline, broken up by an island. With a shoreline index of 3.2, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 78% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 1.6 mi end to end and 1.1 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Kenora District. For a second option, Summit Lake lies 2 mi east.
Come spring, look for cisco (lake herring) tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 20 to 67 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 60 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 66 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 20 to 67 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (66 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (66 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 1 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| 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 | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (2 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Start shallow in spring: muskellunge sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Shallow feeding flat, a feeding flat in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for muskellunge in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. Throw a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (2 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 66 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 Pincher Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Pincher Lake is about 67 ft (20 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1988 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, muskellunge on Pincher Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 66 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 Pincher 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.
Summit Lake 2 mi · Peak Lake 3 mi · Minnehaha Lake 3 mi · Whitewater Lake 4 mi · Lower Walmsley Lake 5 mi · Walmsley Lake 5 mi · Turtlepond Lake 5 mi · Snowfall Lake 6 mi · Ukik Lake 6 mi · Gabbro Lake 6 mi · Wolf Howl Lake 6 mi · Rock Lake 6 mi
See how Pincher Lake stacks up: best muskellunge 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.