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Rating depth structure for muskellunge.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
293-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 115 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 1979, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Stoat Lake runs 293 acres with 4.7 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2) — enough points and pockets to pattern. About 54% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 1.7 mi end to end and 0.5 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Kenora District. For a second option, Fisher L. lies 2 mi southwest.
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 35 to 115 ft before dropping to 20 to 80 ft for winter. Summer lake trout concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 105 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger 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 | Break off the point (17 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 35 to 115 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (105 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring cisco (lake herring) on Stoat Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 40 to 80 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 17 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 40 to 80 ft | dawn | open water | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring puts muskellunge in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 17 ft, rated prime for fall muskellunge. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (7 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Back-bay flat (17 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (17 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
In spring, burbot run shallow here, mostly 25 to 70 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 35 to 115 ft before dropping to 15 to 60 ft for winter. Summer burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 105 ft. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 35 to 115 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (105 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 105 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 Stoat Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Stoat Lake is about 115 ft (35 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1979, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target lake trout, cisco (lake herring), muskellunge, burbot on Stoat Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 105 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For lake trout, 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 Stoat 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.
Fisher L. 2 mi · Little Hawkcliff Lake 3 mi · Hawkcliff Lake 3 mi · McKinstry Lake 5 mi · Beaverhouse Lake 6 mi · Green Lake 6 mi · Populus Lake 7 mi · VF60-12, L. 8 mi · VE68-50, L. 8 mi · Berry Lakes 9 mi · VE78-62, L. 9 mi · Straight Lake 10 mi
See how Stoat Lake stacks up: best muskellunge lakes in Ontario · best lake trout 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. 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.