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407-acre lake in Algoma District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 28 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Tilley Lakes maps at 407 acres behind 3.8 miles of shoreline. At index 1.3 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 67% of this chart, as modeled. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.1 mi with a 0.9-mi widest point. Algoma District claims this one. Little Turkey Lake sits 2 mi northwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cisco (lake herring) in 7 to 28 ft. The depth story barely changes: 8 to 28 ft through summer, 8 to 28 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 7 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (24 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (24 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (24 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 28 ft, wintering in 8 to 28 ft. Fall walleye concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 13 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 28 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (13 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (24 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 28 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 28 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (13 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft | midday | Break off the point (13 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rock bass in 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 20 ft before dropping to 8 to 28 ft for winter. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for rock bass in summer. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (13 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft | midday | Deep basin (24 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 24 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Tilley Lakes specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Tilley Lakes is about 28 ft (9 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), walleye, smallmouth bass, rock bass on Tilley Lakes.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Tilley Lakes 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.
Little Turkey Lake 2 mi · Wishart Lake 2 mi · Turkey Lake 3 mi · Drew Lake 3 mi · Batchawana Lake 4 mi · Kerwin Lake 4 mi · Bone Lake 4 mi · Olsen L. 27 5 mi · Adelaide Lake 5 mi · Griffin Lake 5 mi · McGovern Lake 6 mi · Wiley Lake 6 mi
See how Tilley Lakes stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best walleye lakes in Ontario · best rock bass lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Algoma District fishing maps (1026 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or 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.