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81-acre lake in Grey County, Ontario. The lake tops out around 23 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 2007 (an MNRF lake survey). The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Wilder Lake runs 81 acres with 2.7 miles of edge — 2 islands included. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2.1) — enough points and pockets to pattern. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 86% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 0.8 mi end to end and 0.3 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Grey County. For a second option, Matthews Lake lies 1 mi south.
Spring puts brook trout in skinny water — 2 to 15 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 7 to 23 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 20 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 23 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (23 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 23 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 23 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 23 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn | Deep basin (23 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Deep basin (23 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (23 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 7 to 23 ft, wintering in 7 to 23 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 10 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Break off the point (10 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 7 to 23 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Break off the point (10 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring rock bass on Wilder Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 23 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 10 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in the evening. The summer box starts with a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (10 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Deep basin (23 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Spring pumpkinseed on Wilder Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 2 to 10 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 18 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 1 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 23 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 Wilder Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Wilder Lake is about 23 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 2007 (an MNRF lake survey).
Anglers target brook trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed on Wilder Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 Wilder 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.
Matthews Lake 1 mi · Durham Town P. 4 mi · Holstein Dam 6 mi · Greins P. 6 mi · Tobermory Lake 9 mi · Irish Lake 9 mi · Turner Lake 10 mi · Wilcox Lake 11 mi · Townsend Lake 11 mi · Welbeck Mill Pond 12 mi · Flesherton L. 3 12 mi · Flesherton Community Pond 12 mi
See how Wilder Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Ontario · best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best brook trout lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Grey County fishing maps (47 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.