Smail Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (ON)

Skip to interactive depth chart

Lake depth chart

Smail Lake, ON

Max 38 ft

Today's read

Where to start

Fall shiner run window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Fall shiner runActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Oct 31 · same push on the Ontario side — Simcoe's shiners migrate shallow as the water cools, and the predators ride with them

adultdaylight for the jig bite; after dark the shiners stack under dock lights with walleyes and pike mixed right in — follow the bait, not the spot — millions of shiners move together and the predators ride with them; silver profile and flash matter

Concentrates hard but travels — the school (and the walleyes under it) can be off a river mouth one week and miles upriver the next.

Jig-and-minnow is the event's signature — a frozen emerald shiner on a 1/4 oz jig drifted along the run; silver jerkbaits and trolled crankbaits take the roaming fish; blade baits under the schools.

The event happens over river mouths and the first miles upriver, warming shallow shorelines, and rocky points where the displaced bait stacks

Next on this water

Hex (giant mayfly) · mayflyMay 25 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

June mayfly hatch (walleye lakes) · mayflyJun 1 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

Loading depth chart…

Recent catches at Smail Lake

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Smail Lake on the board.

Fishing Smail Lake: what the data says

47-acre lake in Algoma District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 38 ft. This chart interpolates between a real shoreline and a known maximum depth. It will point you at likely water, but it is not a navigation product. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.

Smail Lake maps at 46 acres behind 1.6 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.7) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 45% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Call it 0.6 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Algoma District. If the bite dies, McGivney Lake is 1 mi to the east.

Walleye fishing at Smail Lake

The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 35 ft before dropping to 11 to 38 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	4 to 15 ft	dusk & dawn	Main-lake point (10 ft)	1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig
Summer	15 to 35 ft	dusk & dawn	Break off the point (17 ft)	Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled)
Fall	11 to 38 ft	dusk & night	Break off the point (17 ft)	Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow
Winter	11 to 38 ft	dusk & dawn	Deep basin (32 ft)	Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait

Pumpkinseed fishing at Smail Lake

In spring, pumpkinseed run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 18 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring pumpkinseed. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 8 ft	midday & dusk	Shallow bay flat (5 ft)	Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin
Summer	2 to 10 ft	dusk & dawn	Shallow bay flat (5 ft)	Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly)
Fall	4 to 14 ft	dusk & dawn	Shallow bay flat (5 ft)	Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped
Winter	6 to 18 ft	dawn	Shallow bay flat (5 ft)	Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 5 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 32 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 32 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 17 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 10 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 5 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 5 ft

Smail Lake fishing regulations

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 Smail Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Smail Lake?

Smail Lake is about 38 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Smail Lake?

Anglers target walleye, pumpkinseed on Smail Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on Smail Lake?

Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.

When is the best time to fish Smail Lake?

For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

What are the fishing regulations for Smail Lake?

Fishing on Smail 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.

Nearby waters

McGivney Lake 1 mi · Wigmore Lake 2 mi · Fryer Lake 2 mi · Little Serpent Lake 3 mi · Hackford Lake 3 mi · Crab Lake 3 mi · Deagle L. 40 3 mi · Lang Lake 3 mi · Closs Lake 3 mi · Horseshoe Lake 3 mi · Canoe Lake 4 mi · Hone Lake 4 mi

See how Smail Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best pumpkinseed lakes in Ontario

More water nearby: Algoma District fishing maps (1026 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.