Map of Carson Lake with depth contours

Carson Lake

45.5139° N, 77.7583° W

Depth contours from the government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

Carson Lake is 42.7 m deep at its deepest point, deeper than 90% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 2.7 km² and lies 5.3 km west of Barry's Bay.

Government surveys have recorded 8 fish species here, including lake whitefish, lake trout and smallmouth bass.

Maximum depth
42.7 m
deeper than 90% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
2.7 km²
larger than 85% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
9.4 km
longer than 72% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Water clarity
6.3 mSecchi depth, 2025
clearer than 92% of the 1,251 monitored lakes in Ontario
Fish species
8
more than 65% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
298 m

Today on the water

4.9 °C

Wind calm

Observed at Barry's Bay, as of 3:00 a.m. EDT

choppy Estimated waves, next 12 hours: up to 0.3 m. Around 12 p.m., wind from the northwest: the northwest shore is sheltered, waves build toward the southeast shore.

Hourly forecast, next 24 hours
Time4 a.m.7 a.m.10 a.m.1 p.m.4 p.m.7 p.m.10 p.m.1 a.m.
Wind km/hW 15W 15W 15NW 30NW 30NW 15var. 5var. 5
Gusts km/h5050
Waves (est.) m0.20.20.20.3
Temp. °C23711131050
Precip. %40404040202000

Tonight: Partly cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers. Risk of a thunderstorm early this evening. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light this evening. Low plus 2.

Weather: Barry's Bay (local forecast), as of 3:00 a.m. EDT

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
6:49 a.m.
Sunrise
7:19 a.m.
Sunset
6:36 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:05 p.m.
Moonrise
6:11 a.m.
Moonset
5:54 p.m.
Moon
Waning crescent, 1% lit

Data Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada. Local times.

How waves are estimated

Significant wave height from the forecast hourly wind and the open-water distance (fetch) upwind, using the SMB method (US Army Corps of Engineers Shore Protection Manual, 1984), rounded up to the next 0.1 m. It is not a measurement: gusts, leftover swell and shoals can make water rougher. Under 0.2 m: calm; 0.2–0.5 m: choppy; over 0.5 m: rough.

Depth

24% of Carson Lake is shallower than 3 m, and 31% is deeper than 20 m.

How to read it: the lake’s area is sorted from the shore to the deepest point. Where the curve is flat, large areas share one depth (flats and weed beds); where it drops, depth changes quickly (drop-offs).

The government depth survey records a maximum depth of 42.7 m, drawn from 16 depth contours.

Not for navigation. Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 23 government surveys (2011–2016) that recorded them.

  • Lake Whitefish23 of 23
  • Lake Trout5 of 23
  • Smallmouth Bass4 of 23
  • Burbot2 of 23
  • Rock Bass2 of 23
  • Walleye2 of 23
Other species (2)
  • White Sucker 6
  • Brown Bullhead 1

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

The provincial guide to eating fish (2026) sets limits for 3 species from Carson Lake. Maximum meals per month:

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Lake Trout50-55 cm84Mercury
Lake Whitefish45-50 cm84PCB
Walleye40-45 cm8Do not eatMercury

* As defined in the guide, including children and people who are or may become pregnant. Limits are for the length the guide lists most often; they change with the size of the fish. Read the official guide

Fishing regulations: Fisheries Management Zone 15. Check seasons and limits before you fish.

Water

Clarity was measured with a Secchi disk in 8 years between 2018 and 2025; the latest annual mean is 6.3 m.

Water clarity (Secchi depth, m)
Total phosphorus (µg/L)