Ponsford Lake Depth Map (Parry Sound District, ON)

Hatch outlook

Hopper & ant season (windward banks)Active window

Typical here: Jul 1 – Sep 15 · hoppers peak July–August; winged-ant falls show up on warm humid afternoons — a wind event, not a hatch

adultwarm, breezy afternoons, roughly 1–5pm — slap the imitation down hard — the splat is the trigger — then wait; count to three after the rise before setting

Work the windward bank on breezy summer afternoons — that's where the food is. Casting-bubble-and-hopper is the direct translation; otherwise run small topwaters and inline spinners tight along the grass edges and blowdown banks in the afternoon warmth.

The event happens over windward grassy banks, overhanging brush and blowdowns — wherever the breeze dumps the bugs

Next on this water

Fall shiner run · baitfishSep 1 – Oct 31 · in ~3 days

Hex (giant mayfly) · mayflyMay 25 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

June mayfly hatch (walleye lakes) · mayflyJun 1 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours here are interpolated from real agency depth surveys (state DNR / USACE). Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Ponsford Lake

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Ponsford Lake on the board.

Fishing Ponsford Lake: what the data says

117-acre lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 70 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1968, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Ponsford Lake

Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Secondary point: a point around 20 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (1 ft)	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	10 to 30 ft	dawn & dusk	Secondary point (20 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	8 to 25 ft	midday & dawn	Secondary point (20 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	20 to 45 ft	midday	Break off the point (66 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Notable structure

The chart marks 6 structure features on Ponsford Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 70 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 70 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 66 ft
Secondary point: point, around 20 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 1 ft
Shallow bay flat: feeding flat, around 1 ft
Back-bay flat: feeding flat, around 1 ft

Ponsford Lake fishing regulations

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 Ponsford Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Ponsford Lake?

Ponsford Lake is about 70 ft (21 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1968, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).

What fish are in Ponsford Lake?

Anglers target smallmouth bass on Ponsford Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on Ponsford Lake?

Secondary point is the top-rated area: a point in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.

When is the best time to fish Ponsford Lake?

For smallmouth bass, 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.

What are the fishing regulations for Ponsford Lake?

Fishing on Ponsford 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.

Nearby waters

Ten Mile Lake 2 mi · Petty Lake 3 mi · Day Lake 3 mi · Fume Lake 3 mi · Manitouwaba Lake 3 mi · Sugar Lake 4 mi · Storm Lake 4 mi · Lower Fry Lake 4 mi · Star Lake 4 mi · Little Manitouwaba Lake 4 mi · Mutton Lake 4 mi · Turtle Lake 4 mi

See how Ponsford Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario

More water nearby: Parry Sound District fishing maps (441 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.