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Rating depth structure for northern pike.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
79-acre lake near Mackinac County. The lake tops out around 9 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 drawn water covers 62 acres wrapped in 1.5 miles of bank. Its 1.4 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Call it 0.5 mi long by 0.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. Mackinac County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Rexton Lake, is 4 mi to the southeast.
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 2 to 9 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 9 ft covers summer, 3 to 9 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | dawn | Deep basin (9 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (9 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for northern pike tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 9 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 9 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (6 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rock bass in 2 to 9 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 9 ft through summer, 3 to 9 ft in winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rock bass in fall. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft | dusk | Break off the point (6 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Break off the point (6 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
When the water first warms, bluegill slide up into 1 to 6 ft. Summer is a 2 to 9 ft game here, winter a 3 to 9 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 1 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Break off the point (6 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: pumpkinseed in 1 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 2 to 9 ft before dropping to 3 to 9 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for pumpkinseed in spring. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | dawn | Deep basin (9 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
When the water first warms, brown bullhead slide up into 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 2 to 9 ft game here, winter a 3 to 9 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 9 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | dusk | Deep basin (9 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 9 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 Big Dollar Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Big Dollar Lake is about 9 ft (3 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, northern pike, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Big Dollar 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 9 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Big Dollar 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.
Rexton Lake 4 mi · Cranberry Lake 5 mi · Strouble Lake 6 mi · Millecoquins Lake 11 mi · Trout Lake 13 mi · Mud Lake 13 mi · Twin Lake, East 13 mi · Frenchman Lake 14 mi · Williams Lake 15 mi · Kaks Lake 15 mi · Bobbygay Lake 18 mi · East Lake 19 mi
See how Big Dollar Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best bluegill lakes in Michigan · best yellow perch lakes in Michigan · best rock bass lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Mackinac County fishing maps (16 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.