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182-acre lake in Cochrane District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 90 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1973, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The outline encloses 183 acres, worked by 5.8 miles of shoreline — 2 islands included. A development index of 3 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. 38% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 1.5 mi long by 0.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. Cochrane District claims this one. Laidlaw Lake sits 3 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring lake trout on Return Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 27 to 90 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 80 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 77 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (14 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 27 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (77 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (14 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (77 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
In spring, cisco (lake herring) run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 40 to 80 ft before dropping to 20 to 60 ft for winter. Summer cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 77 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (77 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (77 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Back-bay flat (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 77 ft.
Access data: Land Information Ontario — Fishing Access Point. 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 Return Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Return Lake is about 90 ft (27 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1973, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake trout, cisco (lake herring), northern pike on Return Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 77 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For lake trout, 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 Return 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.
Laidlaw Lake 3 mi · Oke Lake 6 mi · Alvin L. 11 mi · Price L. 11 mi · Manning Lake 12 mi · Carmichael Lake 14 mi · Aitken Lake 15 mi · Lower Aitken Lake 16 mi · Departure Lake 19 mi · Watersnake Lake 22 mi · Jack Lake 22 mi · Sutherland Lake 22 mi
See how Return Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Cochrane District fishing maps (673 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.