Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
151-acre lake in Sudbury 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 1960, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Portal Lake maps at 152 acres behind 3.2 miles of shoreline — one island included. A middling shoreline index (1.9) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 92% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 0.9 mi end to end and 0.5 mi across at its widest. Sudbury District claims this one. Harland Lake sits 2 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 7 to 24 ft, wintering in 7 to 24 ft. Fall yellow perch concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 20 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| 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 | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Portal Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 1 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
| 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 (20 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 20 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 Portal Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Portal Lake is about 24 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1960, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target yellow perch, northern pike on Portal Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For yellow perch, 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 Portal 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.
Harland Lake 2 mi · Robinson Lake 2 mi · Isbister Lake 3 mi · Wenebegon Lake 3 mi · Kebskwasheshi Lake 5 mi · Simon L. 5 mi · Phyl's Lake 6 mi · Memoir Lake 7 mi · Emmons Lake 8 mi · Imakaw Lake 8 mi · Wakami Lake 9 mi · Hamilton Lake 9 mi
See how Portal Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Sudbury District fishing maps (868 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or 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.