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3,671-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 59 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1977, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Setting Net Lake maps at 3,687 acres behind 37.1 miles of shoreline — 38 islands included. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 4.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 45% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 5.8 mi, about 3.3 mi across. Kenora District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, South Trout Lake, is 8 mi to the northwest.
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 18 to 59 ft; cold water stacks them in 18 to 59 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 59 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (59 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (2 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (59 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Start shallow in spring: cisco (lake herring) sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 18 to 59 ft; cold water stacks them in 18 to 59 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 59 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (59 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 18 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (59 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 40 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (20 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts sauger in skinny water — 4 to 18 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 45 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for fall sauger. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (2 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 20 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Weed flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (15 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shoreline point (9 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Setting Net Lake also holds burbot (18 to 59 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
15 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 59 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 Setting Net Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Setting Net Lake is about 59 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1977, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, sauger, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Setting Net Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 59 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 Setting Net 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.
South Trout Lake 8 mi · Kennedy Lake 14 mi · Favourable Lake 16 mi · Duckling Lake 19 mi · Warwick Lake 20 mi · Bullock Lake 23 mi · Hawley Lakes 24 mi · Helm Lake 25 mi · Finger Lake 26 mi · Sandy Lake 26 mi · Hanging Lake 26 mi · Cornelius Lake 26 mi
See how Setting Net Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best sauger lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Kenora District fishing maps (1173 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.