Lake depth chart
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3,672-acre lake near Kingsbury County. The lake tops out around 13 ft. The depth chart comes from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Albert Lake maps at 3,695 acres behind 16.7 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Figure 4.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.6 mi at the beam. It sits in Kingsbury County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Poinsett Lake, is 4 mi to the northeast.
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 4 to 13 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 13 ft. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | open water | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring crappie on Albert Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 4 to 13 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 13 ft. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled).
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | open water | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Spring bluegill on Albert Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. By summer they slide out to 3 to 13 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 13 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | open water | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | open water | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring northern pike on Albert Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 4 to 13 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 13 ft. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | midday | open water | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 3 to 13 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 4 to 13 ft covers summer, 4 to 13 ft covers winter. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | open water | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 4 to 13 ft game here, winter a 4 to 13 ft one. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Albert Lake also holds brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), white bass (4 to 13 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Albert Lake carries 12 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 13 ft down.
Access data: South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks — Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for South Dakota waters are set by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks — and special regulations can apply to Albert Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official South Dakota fishing regulations →
Albert Lake is about 13 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, brown bullhead, white bass on Albert Lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
For yellow perch, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Albert Lake is regulated by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. Check the official South Dakota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Poinsett Lake 4 mi · Norden Lake 5 mi · Whitewood Lake 17 mi · Sinai Lake 19 mi · Henry Lake 21 mi · Goose Lake 22 mi · Thompson Lake 23 mi · Pelican Lake 23 mi · Campbell Lake 27 mi · Kampeska Lake 27 mi · Clear Lake 29 mi · Long Lake 30 mi
See how Albert Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in South Dakota · best walleye lakes in South Dakota · best white bass lakes in South Dakota · best northern pike lakes in South Dakota
Browse all South Dakota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.