Lake depth chart
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629-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 49 ft. Bathymetry on this water is estimated from its real outline and maximum depth. Use it to shortlist water, then verify with your electronics — and never navigate by it. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Square Lake maps at 627 acres behind 7.9 miles of shoreline — one island included. With a shoreline index of 2.2, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 39% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 1.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.4 mi at the beam. Kenora District claims this one. Ostrum Lake sits 1 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
In spring, cisco (lake herring) run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 49 ft before dropping to 15 to 49 ft for winter. Summer cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 42 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (42 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 15 to 49 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (42 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 15 to 49 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (42 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (22 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (42 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 6 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 (6 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring burbot on Square Lake hold shallow, usually 15 to 49 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 15 to 49 ft in summer, 12 to 49 ft once it turns cold. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 42 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 | 15 to 49 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (42 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 15 to 49 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (42 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 15 to 49 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (42 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 12 to 49 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (42 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 42 ft.
Access data: Geospatial Ontario - Fishing Access Points. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Square Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Square Lake is about 49 ft (15 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.
Anglers target cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Square Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 42 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For cisco (lake herring), 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 Square 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.
Ostrum Lake 1 mi · Godden Lake 2 mi · Reguly Lake 3 mi · Dollar Lake 4 mi · Little Snowstorm Lake 4 mi · Snowstorm Lake 4 mi · Gustauson Lake 4 mi · Heathwalt Lake 5 mi · Arethusa Lake 5 mi · Steinhoff Lake 5 mi · Abamategwia Lake 6 mi · Pluto Lake 6 mi
See how Square Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best burbot lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Kenora District fishing maps (1173 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps. 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.