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31-acre lake in Nipissing District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 7 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 1989 (a transect sounding survey). The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Drawn out, this is 32 acres of water rimmed by 2.5 miles of bank — one island included. A development index of 3.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. End to end it runs roughly 0.7 mi, about 0.3 mi across. You'll find it in Nipissing District. For a second option, Little Drummer Lake lies 1 mi east.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brook trout in 1 to 7 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 7 ft through summer, 1 to 7 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 7 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
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 | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (7 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 2 to 7 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 7 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 7 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (7 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (7 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 7 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 7 ft, and they winter in 2 to 7 ft. Fall smallmouth bass concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 3 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig 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 | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (6 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (6 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for pumpkinseed tight to the bank in 1 to 7 ft. Through summer count on 1 to 7 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 7 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening and early morning. A micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 1 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Start shallow in spring: brown bullhead sit in 2 to 7 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 7 ft covers summer, 2 to 7 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 7 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
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 | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (7 ft) |
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 7 ft.
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 Tonakela Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Tonakela Lake is about 7 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1989 (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target brook trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Tonakela Lake. This isn't a survey of the lake — none is on record for it — but an informed estimate from the species Ontario's MNRF recorded in the nearest surveyed lakes, filtered to this lake's depth and habitat.
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 map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For brook trout, 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 Tonakela 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.
Little Drummer Lake 1 mi · Namakootchie Lake 1 mi · Thunder Lake 1 mi · Namakootchie Creek 1 mi · Drummer Lake 1 mi · Panther Lake 1 mi · Lupus Lake 1 mi · Dace Lake 2 mi · Red Lake 2 mi · North Oak Lake 2 mi · Mossy Lake 2 mi · Sam Lake 2 mi
See how Tonakela Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best brook trout lakes in Ontario · best pumpkinseed lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Nipissing District fishing maps (683 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.