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152-acre lake in Renfrew County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 60 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1975, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The drawn water covers 153 acres wrapped in 3.6 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (2.1) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 57% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.1 mi with a 0.4-mi widest point. Renfrew County claims this one. Burns Lake sits 1 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.
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. Spring yellow perch concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 3 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 (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring smallmouth bass on Surprise 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 20 to 45 ft. The chart's best answer is Main-lake point — point, 7 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (16 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Surprise Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 60 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 Surprise Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Surprise Lake is about 60 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1975, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target yellow perch, smallmouth bass on Surprise Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For yellow perch, 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 Surprise 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.
Burns Lake 1 mi · Paugh Lake 2 mi · McGuire Lake 5 mi · Cybulski Lake 5 mi · Otter Lake 5 mi · Carson Lake 6 mi · Yantha Lake 6 mi · Mishap Lake 6 mi · Partridge Lake 6 mi · Albert Lake 6 mi · Kretzel Lake 6 mi · Trout Lake 6 mi
See how Surprise Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Renfrew County fishing maps (298 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.