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2,363-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 35 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 rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Sturge Lake maps at 2,361 acres behind 14.1 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (2.1) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Roughly 66% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 3.3 mi with a 2-mi widest point. Thunder Bay District claims this one. Elm Lake sits 5 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring puts lake whitefish in skinny water — 11 to 35 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 11 to 35 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 35 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 29 ft, rated prime for summer lake whitefish. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon covers the summer program.
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 | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (29 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (29 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 11 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 (1 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (29 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Fall yellow perch concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 29 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (29 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (29 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (29 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Sturge Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 1 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring smallmouth bass on Sturge Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 11 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 20 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
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 (20 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (20 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season burbot use the shallows, holding in 11 to 35 ft. Even in summer they hold at 11 to 35 ft; winter keeps them in 9 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 29 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is after dark and midday. Tie on a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (29 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (29 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (29 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 9 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (29 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Sturge Lake carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 29 ft down.
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 Sturge Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Sturge Lake is about 35 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. 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.
Anglers target lake whitefish, walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, smallmouth bass, burbot on Sturge Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 29 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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 Sturge 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.
Elm Lake 5 mi · Pringle Lake 6 mi · Little Sturge Lake 6 mi · Disraeli Lake 6 mi · Cliff Lake 7 mi · Black Mountain Lake 7 mi · Little Moraine Lake 8 mi · Moraine Lake 9 mi · Muskrat Lake 10 mi · Eskwanonwatin Lake 10 mi · Anders Lake 11 mi · Nonwatin Lake 11 mi
See how Sturge Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch 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.