Map of South Lake with depth contours

South Lake

44.4342° N, 76.2214° W

Depth contours from the 1965 government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

South Lake is 13.7 m deep at its deepest point, shallower than 59% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 2.38 km² and lies 3.5 km southeast of Seeleys Bay.

Government surveys have recorded 14 fish species here, including yellow perch, bluegill and pumpkinseed.

Maximum depth
13.7 msurveyed 1965
shallower than 59% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
2.38 km²
larger than 84% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
10.6 km
longer than 75% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Water clarity
1.9 mSecchi depth, 2024
less clear than 86% of the 1,251 monitored lakes in Ontario
Fish species
14
more than 86% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
82 m

Today on the water

10.5 °C

Wind WSW 3 km/h

Observed at Gananoque, 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. °C561013151274
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 5.

Weather: Gananoque (local forecast), as of 3:04 a.m. EDT

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
6:43 a.m.
Sunrise
7:12 a.m.
Sunset
6:30 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:00 p.m.
Moonrise
6:04 a.m.
Moonset
5:49 p.m.
Moon
Waning crescent, 1% lit

Air Quality Health Index

2 low risk

Kingston, 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

19% of South Lake is shallower than 3 m, and 54% is deeper than 5 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 1965 records a maximum depth of 13.7 m, drawn from 21 depth contours.

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 Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 16 government surveys (2010–2010) that recorded them.

  • Yellow Perch13 of 16
  • Bluegill10 of 16
  • Pumpkinseed9 of 16
  • Black Crappie8 of 16
  • Rock Bass8 of 16
  • Smallmouth Bass8 of 16
  • Largemouth Bass7 of 16
  • Northern Pike4 of 16
Forage fish and other species (6)

Forage fish

  • Alewife 13
  • Golden Shiner 9

Other

  • Brown Bullhead 6
  • White Sucker 6
  • Yellow Bullhead 4
  • Bowfin 3

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

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

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Northern Pike55-60 cm168Mercury
Smallmouth Bass35-40 cm124Mercury

* 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 14 years between 2009 and 2024; the latest annual mean is 1.9 m.

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

Getting on the water

1 listed boat launch. marks launches on the map.