Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
8-acre lake near Clay County. The lake tops out around 17 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, Barnesville runs 8 acres with 0.4 miles of edge. At index 1.1 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. About 62% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. You'll find it in Clay County. The nearest mapped water is West Olaf, 12 mi to the east.
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 5 to 17 ft game here, winter a 5 to 17 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 14 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring walleye on Barnesville hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 17 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 17 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 8 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep 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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (8 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring black bullhead on Barnesville hold shallow, usually 2 to 9 ft. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 17 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 14 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
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 9 ft | dusk & night | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 28 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: green sunfish sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 17 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for green sunfish in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a micro jig or a small grub 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 | 1 to 8 ft | midday | open water | Micro jig, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Micro jig, Small grub |
| Fall | 4 to 16 ft | midday | Break off the point (8 ft) | Small jig, Micro crankbait |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 22 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tiny hair jig, Micro spoon |
The chart marks 4 structure features on Barnesville; the deepest is Deep basin at about 14 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Walleye (fry) | 10,000 | — |
| 2024* | Black Crappie (adults) | 60 | — |
| 2024* | Bluegill Sunfish (adults) | 164 | — |
| 2024* | Largemouth Bass (adults) | 33 | — |
| 2024* | Walleye (fry) | 11,215 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Barnesville specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Barnesville is about 17 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target yellow perch, walleye, black bullhead, green sunfish on Barnesville.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
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.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Barnesville was most recently stocked 2025 with 10,000 walleye (fry). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Barnesville 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.
West Olaf 12 mi · Mayfield 12 mi · Jacobs 12 mi · Fifteen 12 mi · Ten 12 mi · Grove 12 mi · Silver 12 mi · Pete 13 mi · Turtle 14 mi · Overson 15 mi · Upper Cormorant 16 mi · Ida 16 mi
See how Barnesville stacks up: best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Clay County fishing maps (11 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.