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309-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 39 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 1998 (an MNRF lake survey). Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, Rinker Lake runs 310 acres with 4.9 miles of edge, broken up by an island. Index 2 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Roughly 74% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.5 mi with a 0.6-mi widest point. You'll find it in Thunder Bay District. The nearest mapped water is Jolly Lake, 1 mi to the southwest.
When the water first warms, lake whitefish slide up into 12 to 39 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 12 to 39 ft, winter 12 to 39 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 30 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon rigged through the warm months.
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 | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 12 to 39 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 30 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (3 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring yellow perch on Rinker Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 30 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.
| 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 | Deep basin (30 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring puts northern pike in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for fall northern pike. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.
| 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 (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 12 to 39 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 12 to 39 ft covers summer, 10 to 39 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 30 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. Throw a heavy jig + cut bait until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 10 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 30 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Geospatial Ontario - Fishing Access Points. 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 Rinker Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Rinker Lake is about 39 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1998 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Rinker Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For lake whitefish, 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 Rinker 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.
Jolly Lake 1 mi · Vandenbrooks Lake 3 mi · Legris Lake 4 mi · Sauerbrei Lake 7 mi · Camp Lake 8 mi · Poshkokagan Lake 8 mi · Rousseau Lake 8 mi · Lac des Iles 9 mi · Whistle Lake 9 mi · Heaven Lake 11 mi · Starnes Lake 11 mi · Whitefin Lake 11 mi
See how Rinker Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 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.