Lake depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
132-acre lake in Algoma District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 30 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). Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Skunk Lake maps at 132 acres behind 2.9 miles of shoreline — one island included. A middling shoreline index (1.8) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Roughly 61% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 0.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.6 mi at the beam. It sits in Algoma District. Its nearest charted neighbour, Bilton Lake, is 2 mi to the west.
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.
Come spring, look for brook trout tight to the bank in 2 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 20 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 30 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Spring lake trout on Skunk Lake hold shallow, usually 8 to 30 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 9 to 30 ft in summer, 8 to 30 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 30 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger.
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 30 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 6 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 8 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 9 to 30 ft. Summer keeps them at 9 to 30 ft, and they winter in 9 to 30 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 30 ft, rated prime for summer lake whitefish. Time it for early morning. 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 | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (1 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Early season smallmouth bass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 9 to 30 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 30 ft, good for winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
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 | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (1 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring burbot on Skunk Lake hold shallow, usually 9 to 30 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 9 to 30 ft in summer, 8 to 30 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 30 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in 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 | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 8 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Skunk Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 30 ft down.
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 Skunk Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Skunk Lake is about 30 ft (9 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 brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, smallmouth bass, burbot on Skunk Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
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 Skunk 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.
Bilton Lake 2 mi · Rawhide Lake 3 mi · Rosemarie Lake 3 mi · Sister Lake 3 mi · Burnt Lake 3 mi · Moon Lake 4 mi · Moccasin Lake 4 mi · Moonshine Lake 6 mi · West Ritchie Lake 6 mi · Rottier L. 6 mi · Grey Trout Lake 6 mi · Applesauce Lake 7 mi
See how Skunk Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best brook trout lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Algoma District fishing maps (1026 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.