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4,137-acre lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 48 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 1964, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey). Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Traced from the shoreline, Wildgoose Lake runs 4,156 acres with 45.5 miles of edge, with 25 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 69% of this chart. Figure 7.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.2 mi at the beam. The water lies in Thunder Bay District. For a second option, Turkey Lake lies 4 mi west.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official Ontario MNRF Fish ON-Line record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 15 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 14 to 48 ft, then a winter hold in 14 to 48 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 47 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (27 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (47 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (2 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (47 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Come spring, look for cisco (lake herring) tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 14 to 48 ft, then a winter hold in 14 to 48 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 47 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (47 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (47 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (47 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Spring walleye on Wildgoose Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 15 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 40 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 27 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (27 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (27 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (27 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Put Back-bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 11 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (11 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (27 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (27 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (27 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. Weed flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring northern pike. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (5 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (11 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (11 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Back-bay flat (11 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 14 to 48 ft. The depth story barely changes: 14 to 48 ft through summer, 12 to 48 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 47 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for after dark and midday. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (47 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (47 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (47 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 12 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (47 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Structure-wise the chart holds 12 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 47 ft.
Access data: Geospatial Ontario - Fishing Access Points; Government of Ontario - MNR Unpatented Crown Land Shoreline; Government of Ontario - MNR Unpatented Crown Land Shoreline. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Wildgoose Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Wildgoose Lake is about 48 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1964, a decades-old survey (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake whitefish, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Wildgoose Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 47 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For lake whitefish, 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 Wildgoose 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.
Turkey Lake 4 mi · Goldfield Lake 8 mi · Treptow Lake 10 mi · Hilder Lake 11 mi · Mosher Lake 11 mi · Hutchison Lake 12 mi · Finlayson Lake 13 mi · Eaton Lake 13 mi · Lally Lake 13 mi · Gamsby Lake 14 mi · Blue Lake 15 mi · Kenogamisis Lake 15 mi
See how Wildgoose Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Ontario · best northern pike lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake whitefish lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Thunder Bay District fishing maps (662 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.