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Rating depth structure for splake.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
20-acre lake in Nipissing District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 20 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 1970, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Sam Lake draws 21 acres inside 1.4 miles of shoreline — 2 islands included. The 2.2 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 81% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 0.4 mi, about 0.2 mi across. You'll find it in Nipissing District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Bonita Lake, 1 mi southeast of here.
Spring puts splake in skinny water — 4 to 20 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 6 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 20 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for summer splake. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
Spring pumpkinseed on Sam Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 8 ft. They move out to 2 to 10 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 18 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 1 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
4 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 20 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Sam Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Sam Lake is about 20 ft (6 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 splake, pumpkinseed on Sam Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For splake, 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 Sam 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.
Bonita Lake 1 mi · Drummer Lake 1 mi · Canoe Lake 2 mi · Little Drummer Lake 2 mi · Namakootchie Creek 2 mi · Tea Lake 2 mi · Namakootchie Lake 2 mi · Tonakela Lake 2 mi · Coot Lake 2 mi · Smoke Lake 3 mi · Swan Lake 3 mi · Ouse Lake 3 mi
See how Sam Lake stacks up: best splake lakes in Ontario · best pumpkinseed lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Nipissing District fishing maps (683 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.