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1,121-acre lake in Algoma District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 50 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1970, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Traced from the shoreline, Rufus Lake runs 1,126 acres with 15.5 miles of edge, broken up by 2 islands. A development index of 3.3 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 81% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 3.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.5 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Algoma District. For a second option, Lepp Lake lies 2 mi east.
Spring cisco (lake herring) on Rufus Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 15 to 50 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 50 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 40 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 19 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Keep a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (5 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (19 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 35 ft one. Start at Back-bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 4 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (19 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (19 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Back-bay flat (4 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
In spring, burbot run shallow here, mostly 15 to 50 ft. Summer keeps them at 15 to 50 ft, and they winter in 13 to 50 ft. Spring burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 40 ft. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a heavy jig + cut bait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 50 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (40 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 15 to 50 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 13 to 50 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Rufus Lake carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 40 ft down.
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 Rufus Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Rufus Lake is about 50 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1970, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Rufus Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 40 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For cisco (lake herring), 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 Rufus 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.
Lepp Lake 2 mi · Opasatika Lake 4 3 mi · Opasakita Lake 12 3 mi · Flatt Lake 3 mi · Penelton Lake 4 mi · Little Rice Lake 4 mi · Opasatika Lake 16 4 mi · Opasatika Lake 15 5 mi · Big Rice Lake 6 mi · Opasatika L. 14 6 mi · Opasatika Lake 6 mi · South Moosehorn Lake 7 mi
See how Rufus Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Algoma District fishing maps (1026 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.