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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
377-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 26 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 1980 (a transect sounding survey). Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 378 acres wrapped in 12.4 miles of bank, with 12 islands in the mix. An index of 4.6 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 95% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.7 mi with a 0.8-mi widest point. Thunder Bay District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Hazel Lake, is 3 mi to the north.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official Ontario MNRF Fish ON-Line record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 8 to 26 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 26 ft, and they winter in 8 to 26 ft. Summer lake whitefish concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 26 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon most summer days.
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 | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (26 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (4 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (26 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
In spring, cisco (lake herring) run shallow here, mostly 7 to 26 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 26 ft, and they winter in 8 to 26 ft. Spring cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 26 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic most summer days.
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 | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (26 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (26 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (26 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 26 ft, wintering in 8 to 26 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 26 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
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 | Main-lake point (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (26 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (26 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (26 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 26 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 26 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (7 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (26 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (26 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (26 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 7 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (7 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (7 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (7 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring burbot on Silver Lake hold shallow, usually 8 to 26 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 26 ft in summer, 7 to 26 ft once it turns cold. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 26 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run after dark and midday. The summer box starts with a heavy jig + cut bait.
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 | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (26 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (26 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (26 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (26 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 26 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 Silver Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Silver Lake is about 26 ft (8 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1980 (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Silver Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 26 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Silver 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.
Hazel Lake 3 mi · Elga L. 3 mi · Smye Lake 3 mi · Sassenach Lake 6 mi · Painter L. 6 mi · Savant Lake 8 mi · Heathcote Lake 8 mi · Staunton Lake 13 mi · Fog Lake 13 mi · Neverfreeze Lake 14 mi · Hillside Lake 16 mi · Fitchie Lake 17 mi
See how Silver 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.