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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
49-acre lake in Renfrew County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 40 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Drawn out, this is 51 acres of water rimmed by 1.5 miles of bank. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.5) — enough points and pockets to pattern. 67% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 0.6 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Renfrew County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Stones Lake, 3 mi west of here.
In spring, brook trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 3 to 20 ft for winter. Summer brook trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 18 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 34 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 Waites Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Waites Lake is about 40 ft (12 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 brook trout, rainbow trout on Waites Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Waites 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.
Stones Lake 3 mi · Bennetts Lake 3 mi · Stevenson Lake 5 mi · Gibsons Lake 6 mi · Astrolabe Lake 8 mi · Olmstead Lake 8 mi · Jeffreys Lake 9 mi · Muskrat Lake 9 mi · Edmunds Lake 9 mi · Garden Lake 10 mi · Coldingham Lake 11 mi · Lac McCuaig 17 mi, QC
See how Waites Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Ontario · best brook trout lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Renfrew County fishing maps (298 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps. 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.