Map of Mitchell Lake with depth contours

Mitchell Lake

44.5738° N, 78.9503° W

Depth contours from the government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

Mitchell Lake is 1.8 m deep at its deepest point, shallower than 98% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 2.94 km² and lies beside Victoria Road.

Government surveys have recorded 11 fish species here, including largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and rock bass.

Maximum depth
1.8 m
shallower than 98% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
2.94 km²
larger than 86% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
21.8 km
longer than 89% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Water clarity
1.7 mSecchi depth, 2025
less clear than 92% of the 1,251 monitored lakes in Ontario
Fish species
11
more than 77% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
254 m

Today on the water

6.8 °C

Mainly ClearWind WSW 8 km/h

Observed at Kawartha Lakes (Fenelon Falls), as of 3:00 a.m. EDT

choppy Estimated waves, next 12 hours: up to 0.2 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.) m0.10.10.10.2
Temp. °C45912141053
Precip. %20404040202000

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 4.

Weather: Kawartha Lakes (Fenelon Falls) (local forecast), as of 3:02 a.m. EDT

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
6:54 a.m.
Sunrise
7:23 a.m.
Sunset
6:41 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:10 p.m.
Moonrise
6:15 a.m.
Moonset
6:00 p.m.
Moon
Waning crescent, 1% lit

Air Quality Health Index

2 low risk

Peterborough, as of 2:00 a.m. EDT

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

The government depth survey records a maximum depth of 1.8 m, drawn from 12 depth contours.

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 Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 7 government surveys (2012–2013) that recorded them.

  • Largemouth Bass5 of 7
  • Pumpkinseed4 of 7
  • Rock Bass4 of 7
  • Smallmouth Bass3 of 7
  • Bluegill2 of 7
Forage fish and other species (6)

Forage fish

  • Central Mudminnow 2
  • Bluntnose Minnow 1
  • Emerald Shiner 1
  • Golden Shiner 1
  • Iowa Darter 1

Other

  • Brown Bullhead 1

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

The provincial guide to eating fish (2026) sets limits for 8 species from Mitchell Lake. Maximum meals per month:

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Black Crappie20-25 cm1616Precautionary
Largemouth Bass30-35 cm1612Precautionary
Northern Pike55-60 cm1612Precautionary
Rock Bass15-20 cm1612Precautionary
Smallmouth Bass35-40 cm164Mercury
Walleye45-50 cm168Mercury
Yellow Perch20-25 cm1612Precautionary
Brown Bullhead25-30 cm1616Precautionary

* 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 17. Check seasons and limits before you fish.

Water

Clarity was measured with a Secchi disk in 5 years between 2001 and 2025; the latest annual mean is 1.7 m.

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

Getting on the water

2 listed access points, one of them a boat launch; 2 with parking listed. marks launches on the map.

Photos

South Mitchell Lake Causeway, Kirkfield, Ontario - panoramio
Photo: norgo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons