Map of Crotch Lake with depth contours

Crotch Lake

44.9125° N, 76.8094° W

Depth contours from the 1968 government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

Crotch Lake is 24.4 m deep at its deepest point, deeper than 70% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 14.7 km² and lies 2.7 km northeast of Coxvale.

Government surveys have recorded 18 fish species here, including smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass.

Maximum depth
24.4 msurveyed 1968
deeper than 70% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
14.7 km²
larger than 97% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
79.1 km
longer than 97% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Water clarity
3.1 mSecchi depth, 2014
less clear than 60% of the 1,251 monitored lakes in Ontario
Fish species
18
more than 94% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
236 m

Today on the water

7.5 °C

Wind WSW 4 km/h

Observed at Sharbot Lake, as of 3:00 a.m. EDT

choppy Estimated waves, next 12 hours: up to 0.4 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.) m0.20.20.20.4
Temp. °C35912141052
Precip. %204040404020200

Tonight: Partly cloudy. 60 percent chance of showers this evening. Risk of a thunderstorm early this evening. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light this evening. Low plus 3.

Weather: Sharbot Lake (local forecast), as of 3:03 a.m. EDT

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
6:45 a.m.
Sunrise
7:15 a.m.
Sunset
6:32 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:02 p.m.
Moonrise
6:07 a.m.
Moonset
5:51 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

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 from 1968 records a maximum depth of 24.4 m, drawn from 33 depth contours.

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 Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 24 government surveys (1899–2014) that recorded them.

  • Smallmouth Bass16 of 24
  • Yellow Perch16 of 24
  • Rock Bass12 of 24
  • Pumpkinseed10 of 24
  • Walleye8 of 24
  • Largemouth Bass5 of 24
  • Northern Pike5 of 24
  • Cisco4 of 24
  • Bluegill3 of 24
  • Black Crappie2 of 24
Forage fish and other species (8)

Forage fish

  • Bluntnose Minnow 4
  • Fallfish 4
  • Golden Shiner 4
  • Banded Killifish 3
  • Logperch 2

Other

  • White Sucker 3
  • Brown Bullhead 1
  • Longnose Sucker 1

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

The provincial guide to eating fish (2026) sets limits for 11 species from Crotch Lake. Maximum meals per month:

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Bluegill15-20 cm1616Precautionary
Lake Whitefish70-75 cm88PCB
Largemouth Bass30-35 cm124Mercury
Northern Pike55-60 cm8Do not eatMercury
Rock Bass15-20 cm124Mercury
Smallmouth Bass35-40 cm8Do not eatMercury
Walleye40-45 cm8Do not eatMercury
Yellow Perch20-25 cm168Mercury
Brown Bullhead25-30 cm1612Precautionary
Cisco (Lake Herring)35-40 cm168Mercury
White Sucker40-45 cm1616PCB

* 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 18. Check seasons and limits before you fish.

Water

Clarity was measured with a Secchi disk in 4 years between 2000 and 2014; the latest annual mean is 3.1 m.

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

Getting on the water

3 listed boat launches; 2 with parking listed. marks launches on the map.

South shore

Northwest shore