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Rating depth structure for burbot.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
83-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 53 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 1993 (an MNRF lake survey). What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Tartan Lake maps at 83 acres behind 2.3 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.8) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. About 62% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 0.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.3 mi at the beam. Thunder Bay District claims this one. Question Mark Lake sits 1 mi northeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring splake on Tartan Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 16 to 53 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 45 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 29 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep).
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 | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 16 to 53 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (29 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (29 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Break off the point (29 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
Early season burbot use the shallows, holding in 16 to 53 ft. Even in summer they hold at 16 to 53 ft; winter keeps them in 13 to 53 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 50 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 | 16 to 53 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (50 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 16 to 53 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (50 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 16 to 53 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (50 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 13 to 53 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (50 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 50 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 Tartan Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Tartan Lake is about 53 ft (16 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1993 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target splake, burbot on Tartan Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 29 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For splake, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Tartan 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.
Question Mark Lake 1 mi · Bisect Lake 2 mi · Wideman Lake 2 mi · Nalla Lake 2 mi · Moose Lake 2 mi · Mackenzie Lake 2 mi · Upper Hunters Lake 3 mi · Hunters Lakes 3 mi · Elbow Lake 3 mi · White Granite Lake 4 mi · Beaver Lake 4 mi · Clegge Lake 4 mi
See how Tartan Lake stacks up: best burbot lakes in Ontario · best splake 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.