Map of Shelden Lake with depth contours

Shelden Lake

46.5867° N, 83.5902° W

Depth contours from the 1973 government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

Shelden Lake is 21.3 m deep at its deepest point, deeper than 62% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 1.44 km² and lies 12 km northeast of Poplar Dale.

Government surveys have recorded 11 fish species here, including rock bass, brook trout and lake trout.

Maximum depth
21.3 msurveyed 1973
deeper than 62% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
1.44 km²
larger than 75% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
8.5 km
longer than 69% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Fish species
11
more than 77% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
347 m

Today on the water

10.6 °C

Partly CloudyWind NW 23 km/h

Observed at Sault Ste. Marie, as of 9:00 a.m. EDT

choppy Estimated waves, next 12 hours: up to 0.2 m. Around 11 a.m., wind from the west: the west shore is sheltered, waves build toward the east shore.

Hourly forecast, next 24 hours
Time10 a.m.1 p.m.4 p.m.7 p.m.10 p.m.1 a.m.4 a.m.7 a.m.
Wind km/hvar. 5W 20W 20var. 5SE 10SE 10SE 10SE 20
Gusts km/h404040
Waves (est.) m0.10.20.20.10.1
Temp. °C111213118469
Precip. %100000000

Today: A mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers early this morning. Becoming sunny this afternoon. Wind becoming west 20 km/h gusting to 40 late this morning. High 13. UV index 3 or moderate.

Weather: Sault Ste. Marie (local forecast), as of 9:01 a.m. EDT

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
7:13 a.m.
Sunrise
7:43 a.m.
Sunset
6:58 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:28 p.m.
Moonrise
6:36 a.m.
Moonset
6:17 p.m.
Moon
Waning crescent, 1% lit

Air Quality Health Index

1 low risk

Sault Ste. Marie, as of 9:00 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

16% of Shelden Lake is shallower than 3 m, and 48% is deeper than 10 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 1973 records a maximum depth of 21.3 m, drawn from 17 depth contours.

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 Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 33 government surveys (2008–2013) that recorded them.

  • Rock Bass25 of 33
  • Brook Trout12 of 33
  • Lake Trout6 of 33
  • Pumpkinseed6 of 33
Forage fish and other species (7)

Forage fish

  • Common Shiner 16
  • Mimic Shiner 10
  • Bluntnose Minnow 6
  • Blacknose Shiner 1
  • Creek Chub 1
  • Logperch 1

Other

  • White Sucker 22

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

The provincial guide to eating fish (2026) sets limits for 2 species from Shelden Lake. Maximum meals per month:

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Brook Trout30-35 cm1212PCB
Lake Trout45-50 cm168Mercury

* 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 10. Check seasons and limits before you fish.