Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for splake.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
73-acre lake in Algoma District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 79 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 2022 (an MNRF lake survey). Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Drawn out, this is 73 acres of water rimmed by 4.7 miles of bank, with 2 islands in the mix. A development index of 3.9 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. 39% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 0.6 mi long by 0.6 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Algoma District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Nicolet L. 16, 1 mi southwest of here.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: splake in 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 60 ft before dropping to 10 to 45 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 33 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (17 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (33 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (17 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Break off the point (33 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
In spring, rainbow smelt run shallow here, mostly 2 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 24 to 79 ft before dropping to 15 to 60 ft for winter. Summer rainbow smelt concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 73 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a tiny vertical jig or a small sabiki-style rig where legal most summer days.
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 | 2 to 20 ft | night & dusk | open water | Tiny silver jig, Micro spoon |
| Summer | 24 to 79 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (73 ft) | Tiny vertical jig, Small sabiki-style rig where legal |
| Fall | 18 to 65 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (73 ft) | Micro spoon, Tiny jig |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | dusk | Deep basin (73 ft) | Tiny glow jig, Micro jigging spoon |
Pipe Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 73 ft down.
Access data: Geospatial Ontario - Fishing Access Points; Government of Ontario - MNR Unpatented Crown Land Shoreline; Government of Ontario - MNR Unpatented Crown Land Shoreline. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Pipe Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Pipe Lake is about 79 ft (24 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 2022 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target splake, rainbow smelt on Pipe Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 33 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For splake, 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 Pipe 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.
Nicolet L. 16 1 mi · Annie Lake 2 mi · Nicolet Lake 11 3 mi · Middle Pancake Lake 3 mi · Joco Lake 3 mi · Norberg L. 37 3 mi · Wiley Lake 3 mi · Upper Pancake Lake 3 mi · West Joco Lake 4 mi · Pancake Lake 4 mi · Brant Lake 4 mi · Upper Smith Lake 5 mi
See how Pipe Lake stacks up: best splake lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Algoma District fishing maps (1026 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.