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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
74-acre lake near Charlevoix County. The lake tops out around 12 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The chart traces 1.5 miles of shoreline here. Index 1.5 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.6 mi with a 0.2-mi widest point. You'll find it in Charlevoix County. For a second option, Fox Lake lies 4 mi south.
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Even in summer they hold at 4 to 12 ft; winter keeps them in 4 to 12 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. 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 | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 12 ft, and they winter in 4 to 12 ft. Fall smallmouth bass concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 3 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
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 | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (2 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for rock bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 3 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 3 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig is the honest summer answer here.
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 | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 22 ft | midday | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Start shallow in spring: bluegill sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 12 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 12 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig 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 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning 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 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 5 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 11 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Barneys Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Barneys Lake is about 12 ft (4 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 yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rock bass, bluegill, common carp on Barneys 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.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. 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.
Fishing on Barneys 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.
Fox Lake 4 mi · Lake Geneserath 8 mi · Lake Michigan - Little Traverse Bay and the Beaver Islands 18 mi · Millaquaka Lake 26 mi · McDonald Lake 27 mi · Clear Lake 28 mi · Milakokia Lake 28 mi · Wycamp Lake 29 mi · Gulliver Lake 29 mi · Millecoquins Lake 30 mi · Larks Lake 31 mi · Minnow Lake 31 mi
See how Barneys Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best bluegill lakes in Michigan · best yellow perch lakes in Michigan · best common carp lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Charlevoix County fishing maps (16 charts). Browse all Michigan 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.