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1,499-acre lake in Sudbury District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 79 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 a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The drawn water covers 1,506 acres wrapped in 39.3 miles of bank, with 19 islands in the mix. An index of 7.2 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Roughly 47% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 7.6 mi with a 2.6-mi widest point. It sits in Sudbury District. If the bite dies, French River is 2 mi to the east.
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 23 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (12 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (23 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Main-lake point (23 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (23 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Western Channel (French River) carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 61 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 Western Channel (French River) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Western Channel (French River) is about 79 ft (24 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from a transect sounding survey by the Ontario MNRF.
Anglers target walleye on Western Channel (French River).
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 Western Channel (French River) 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.
French River 2 mi · Eastern Outlet (French River) 4 mi · Bass Lake 4 mi · Bird Lake 5 mi · Pike Lake 6 mi · Allen Lake 8 mi · La Casse Lake 9 mi · Spoon Lake 10 mi · Hunter Lake 10 mi · Wolf Creek 11 mi · Missery Lake 11 mi · Broker Lake 11 mi
See how Western Channel (French River) stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Sudbury District fishing maps (868 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.