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Map of Duncan Lake with depth contours

Duncan Lake

47.7628° N, 80.9546° W

Depth contours from the 1969 government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

Duncan Lake, Ontario. 47.7628° N, 80.9546° W

Maximum depth 39.6 m (1969 survey). Scale bar on the map.

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 Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

borealbound.ca/lakes/on/duncan-lake/, compiled October 9, 2026

  • Canadian Geographical Names Database, Natural Resources Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
  • HydroLAKES v1.0, Messager et al. 2016 / WWF HydroSHEDS. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  • Census boundaries and population, 2021, Statistics Canada. Adapted from Statistics Canada. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada.
  • Aquatic Resource Area survey points, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  • Fisheries Management Zones, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  • Bathymetry lines and survey index, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  • City page weather forecasts and alerts, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Contains data from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC Data Servers End-use Licence).
  • Guide to Eating Ontario Fish: Advisory Database, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.

Duncan Lake is 39.6 m deep at its deepest point, deeper than 88% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 10 km² and lies 16 km northwest of Gowganda.

Government surveys have recorded 12 fish species here, including cisco, rock bass and lake whitefish.

Maximum depth
39.6 msurveyed 1969
deeper than 88% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
10 km²
larger than 95% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
74.1 km
longer than 97% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Fish species
12
more than 84% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
324 m

Today on the water

choppy Estimated waves, next 12 hours: up to 0.2 m. Around 9 a.m., wind from the northwest: the northwest shore is sheltered, waves build toward the southeast shore.

Time9 a.m.12 p.m.3 p.m.6 p.m.9 p.m.12 a.m.3 a.m.6 a.m.
Wind km/hNW 15NW 20NW 20NW 20var. 5S 10var. 5SE 15
Gusts km/h404040
Waves (est.) m0.20.20.20.20.1
Temp. °C46884200
Precip. %30202000000

Today: Cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers this morning then a mix of sun and cloud. Wind becoming northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 late this morning. High 9. UV index 3 or moderate.

Weather: Gogama (local forecast), as of 8:05 a.m. EDT

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
7:03 a.m.
Sunrise
7:34 a.m.
Sunset
6:46 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:17 p.m.
Moonrise
6:25 a.m.
Moonset
6:05 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

9% of Duncan Lake 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 from 1969 records a maximum depth of 39.6 m, drawn from 95 depth contours.

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

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 28 government surveys (2009–2014) that recorded them.

  • Cisco15 of 28
  • Rock Bass14 of 28
  • Lake Whitefish13 of 28
  • Walleye12 of 28
  • Northern Pike10 of 28
  • Yellow Perch9 of 28
  • Burbot5 of 28
  • Smallmouth Bass2 of 28
Forage fish and other species (4)

Forage fish

  • Common Shiner 3
  • Logperch 2
  • Trout-Perch 1

Other

  • White Sucker 3

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

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

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Northern Pike55-60 cm4Do not eatMercury
Smallmouth Bass40-45 cm4Do not eatMercury
Walleye40-45 cm4Do 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 8. Check seasons and limits before you fish.