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1,965-acre lake in Big Stone County, Minnesota. The lake tops out around 11 ft. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1987 (the DNR's original lake-survey map). Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The outline encloses 1,964 acres, worked by 19.3 miles of shoreline. An index of 3.1 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. End to end it runs roughly 5.4 mi, about 1.3 mi across. Big Stone County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Long, is 2 mi to the west.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 3 to 11 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 11 ft through summer, 3 to 11 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 3 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft | dusk & dawn | Creek inflow (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (3 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 11 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 11 ft, and they winter in 3 to 11 ft. Back-bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (5 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 11 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 11 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 2 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (5 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Back-bay flat (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring largemouth bass on Artichoke hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 3 to 11 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 11 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 2 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (5 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: white bass in 2 to 11 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 11 ft through summer, 3 to 11 ft in winter. The spot to know is Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for white bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (2 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Early season crappie use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 11 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 11 ft. Put Old creek channel first on the milk run — a creek channel near 4 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Old creek channel (4 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | dawn | Old creek channel (4 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Artichoke also holds bluegill (3 to 11 ft in summer), channel catfish (3 to 11 ft in summer), freshwater drum (3 to 11 ft in summer), common carp (2 to 11 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 8 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 11 ft.
Access data: MN DNR Water Access Sites (struc_water_access_sites), Minnesota Geospatial Commons. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024* | Black Crappie (adults) | 95 | — |
| 2024* | Largemouth Bass (adults) | 32 | — |
| 2024* | Walleye (fry) | 1,000,000 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Artichoke specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Artichoke is about 11 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1987 (the DNR's original lake-survey map).
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on Artichoke.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Artichoke was most recently stocked 2024 with 95 black crappie (adults). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Artichoke is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Long 2 mi · Oliver (west portion) 5 mi · Oliver (east portion) 6 mi · Shible 8 mi · Otrey 10 mi · Long Tom 11 mi · Marsh 11 mi · Hattie 12 mi · Lone Tree Slough 17 mi · North Rothwell 18 mi · Lannon 20 mi · Page 20 mi
See how Artichoke stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best white bass lakes in Minnesota · best northern pike lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Big Stone County fishing maps (11 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.