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18-acre lake in Algoma District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 3 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
On the chart, Root River draws 18 acres inside 3.7 miles of shoreline. An index of 6.3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Call it 1 mi long by 0.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Algoma District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Little Lake George, 1 mi east of here.
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 1 to 3 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 1 to 3 ft covers summer, 1 to 3 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 3 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (3 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft | dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 1 to 3 ft. The depth story barely changes: 1 to 3 ft through summer, 1 to 3 ft in winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (1 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft | dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: chinook salmon in 1 to 3 ft. The depth story barely changes: 1 to 3 ft through summer, 1 to 3 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 3 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (1 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (3 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (1 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft | midday | Deep basin (3 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
In spring, coho salmon run shallow here, mostly 1 to 3 ft. Summer keeps them at 1 to 3 ft, and they winter in 1 to 3 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for summer coho salmon. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (3 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft | midday | Deep basin (3 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 1 to 3 ft. Even in summer they hold at 1 to 3 ft; winter keeps them in 1 to 3 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 1 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 3 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (1 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring yellow perch on Root River hold shallow, usually 1 to 3 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 1 to 3 ft in summer, 1 to 3 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in 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 | 1 to 3 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 1 to 3 ft | dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 1 to 3 ft | midday | Deep basin (3 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 1 to 3 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Root River also holds smallmouth bass (1 to 3 ft in summer), rock bass (1 to 3 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (1 to 3 ft in summer), brown bullhead (1 to 3 ft in summer), lake sturgeon (1 to 3 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Main-lake point at roughly 3 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 Root River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Root River is about 3 ft (1 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brook trout, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, lake sturgeon on Root River.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For brook trout, 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 Root River 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.
Little Lake George 1 mi · Syrette Lake 3 mi · Mabel Lake 4 mi · Crystal Lake 5 mi · Boss Lake 5 mi · St. Joe Lake 5 mi · Maud Lake 6 mi · Trout Lake 6 mi · Elizabeth Lake 6 mi · Wigwas Lake 6 mi · Sandy Lake 7 mi · Maki Lake 7 mi
See how Root River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best walleye lakes in Ontario · best rainbow trout lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Algoma District fishing maps (1026 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.