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76-acre lake in Cochrane District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 40 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 1973, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey). What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Whitefish L. maps at 75 acres behind 2.5 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (2.1) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. About 98% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 1 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.2 mi at the beam. Cochrane District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Star L., is 1 mi to the south.
Spring puts cisco (lake herring) in skinny water — 10 to 40 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 12 to 40 ft, and winter fish hold in 12 to 40 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 24 ft, rated prime for spring cisco (lake herring). Plan around early morning in the warm months. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (24 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 12 to 40 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 (4 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (24 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring northern pike on Whitefish L. hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 1 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (4 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 24 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 Whitefish L. specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Whitefish L. is about 40 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1973, a decades-old survey (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target cisco (lake herring), northern pike on Whitefish L..
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. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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 Whitefish L. 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.
Star L. 1 mi · Big Indian L. 1 mi · Sand L. 2 mi · Ouellet Lake 4 mi · Departure Lake 7 mi · Shackleton Lake 8 mi · Legault's L. 9 mi · Watersnake Lake 12 mi · Audrey Lake 13 mi · Muskrat Lake 13 mi · Lac Brochet 14 mi · Carmichael Lake 15 mi
See how Whitefish L. stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Cochrane District fishing maps (673 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or 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.