Ontario lake maps?

[Wanderer]

I've looked for them last year and again this year but haven't had much luck finding them. What's the best place to look for lake contour maps for Ontario lakes?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[prov1900]

Which lake are you looking for? There are some websites that lead you to calling and ordering. Do a search for Northwest Ontario Maps and it will have a number you can call. I have personally never ordered, but I am in possession of maps from there purchased from the resort I go to. I think they are pretty good, although not as much detail as you would hope for. Other than Navionics I have never seen a great map of Lac Seul, for example. I'm sure there is one out there, just never found it.

It is the planning stage of the trip/time of year, isn't it? Great time of year. I will be looking at the Minnitaki Lake map today, with a few adult beverages.

[Wanderer]

Not necessarily the big popular lakes. I'm an off the grid kind of ice fisherman and I'm looking at some of the lakes in the Crane/Lac la Croix area right now for various species, mainly lakers, walleye, and crappies.

The MNR HSOforum gave me a little info but no maps. I doubt I can just get to any lake I want but I'm always looking for something out of the way and realize I might burn a couple weekends looking for it. Contour maps would help greatly once I access a lake.

We'll be up that way next weekend and have some planned spots to go to but I like mixing it up when I can.

[Cheers]

What you are looking for is a pipe dream . There are no contour maps available on the small lakes

[Wanderer]

Well, I'm a dreamer I guess. But it does raise some more ideas.

I've grown used to how the MN DNR manages our 10,000+ lakes and how I can look up contour maps of mud puddles that freeze out every third year. While I've been looking over maps and info that are/is available for ON waters I've also come to realize they don't manage their 100,000+ lakes and rivers the same way in case 2 people want to try one some time.

Still, I thought I'd ask since I've seen some remarkable info pop up from our HSO members. Sometimes a guy can be really impressed.

[Fish&Fowl]

Lack of a good map just makes it that much more fun to go explore and find out for yourself. Plus it probably keeps a lot of people away, which is even better yet!

[Wanderer]

Sure does. Difficult access does the same though. Sometimes even with a map it can take hours to tune into a spot when you're augering holes. Not nearly as easy as a boat or even canoe.

I don't mind working for my fish but a 5 hour one way drive and 3 maybe 4 trips in entire winter makes maps pretty valuable. Plus I just flat out like to look at a good map. I should have been a Cartographer.

See you guys, good fishing. I have to finish packing.