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71-acre lake near Newaygo County. The lake tops out around 65 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Drawn out, this is 90 acres of water rimmed by 1.7 miles of bank. A shoreline index of 1.3 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Roughly 34% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.5 mi with a 0.5-mi widest point. You'll find it in Newaygo County. For a second option, Englewright Lake lies 1 mi south.
Spring puts brook trout in skinny water — 2 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 3 to 20 ft. Summer brook trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 21 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 21 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
When the water first warms, brown trout slide up into 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 25 to 60 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 21 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. Keep a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Spring puts chinook salmon in skinny water — 5 to 40 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 20 to 65 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 65 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 63 ft, rated prime for summer chinook salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 20 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (63 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 20 to 65 ft | midday | Deep basin (63 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Start shallow in spring: coho salmon sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 20 to 65 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 63 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 20 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (63 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deep basin (63 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Spring cisco (lake herring) on Baptist Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 20 to 65 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 63 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 20 to 65 ft | dawn | Deep basin (63 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (63 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Baptist Lake also holds walleye (15 to 35 ft in summer), yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer), northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer), smallmouth bass (10 to 30 ft in summer), largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer), rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), burbot (20 to 65 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 6 structure features on Baptist Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 63 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2025 | Walleye | 1,097 | ~13.3" |
Source: Michigan DNR fish-stocking database, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Baptist Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Baptist Lake is about 65 ft (20 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, burbot on Baptist Lake. This isn't a survey of the lake — none is on record for it — but an informed estimate from the species listed for the nearest surveyed lakes in the region, filtered to this lake's depth and habitat.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 63 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Michigan DNR fish-stocking database records, Baptist Lake was most recently stocked Sep 18, 2025 with 1,097 walleye. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Baptist Lake is regulated by the Michigan DNR. Check the official Michigan regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Englewright Lake 1 mi · Whitefish Lake 2 mi · Little Whitefish Lake 3 mi · Sand Lake 4 mi · Ransom Lake 6 mi · Bills Lake 6 mi · Lime Lake 9 mi · Long Lake 9 mi · Croton Pond 10 mi · Brooks Lake 10 mi · Muskegon River (Croton Tailwater) 10 mi · Pine Lake 10 mi
See how Baptist Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan · best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best walleye lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Newaygo County fishing maps (28 charts). Browse all Michigan fishing maps or 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.