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122-acre lake near St. Louis County. The lake tops out around 38 ft. This chart interpolates between a real shoreline and a known maximum depth. It will point you at likely water, but it is not a navigation product. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The outline encloses 123 acres, worked by 2.4 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.5) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 62% of this chart, as modeled. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.8 mi with a 0.5-mi widest point. St. Louis County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Sinneeg, is 1 mi to the east.
In spring, cisco (lake herring) run shallow here, mostly 10 to 38 ft. Summer keeps them at 11 to 38 ft, and they winter in 11 to 38 ft. Spring cisco (lake herring) concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 32 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic 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 | 10 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (32 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (32 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (32 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 35 ft, wintering in 11 to 38 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 17 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.
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 (10 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (17 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (32 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 5 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 (5 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 32 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Bear Trap specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Bear Trap is about 38 ft (12 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 cisco (lake herring), walleye, northern pike on Bear Trap.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 32 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For cisco (lake herring), 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 Bear Trap 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.
Sinneeg 1 mi · Gull 2 mi · Home 2 mi · Gun 2 mi · Fairy 3 mi · Bullet 3 mi · Angleworm 3 mi · Moosecamp 4 mi · Crooked 4 mi, MN/ON · Boot 4 mi · Fourtown 6 mi · Ed Shave 6 mi
See how Bear Trap stacks up: best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best northern pike lakes in Minnesota · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: St. Louis County fishing maps (429 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.