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807-acre lake near St. Louis County. The lake tops out around 25 ft. The depth chart comes from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1983 (the DNR's original lake-survey map). The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Big runs 807 acres with 9.6 miles of edge. A development index of 2.4 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. About 52% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 2.6 mi long by 1.1 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in St. Louis County. The nearest mapped water is Seven Beaver, 3 mi to the southeast.
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 20 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Keep a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
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 (1 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (25 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is an 8 to 25 ft game here, winter an 8 to 25 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 25 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm rigged through the warm months.
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 (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (25 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (25 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (25 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| 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 | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring rock bass on Big hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 5 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 25 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 20 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run the evening. The summer box starts with a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig.
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 (1 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (20 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (25 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
In spring, burbot run shallow here, mostly 8 to 25 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 25 ft, and they winter in 6 to 25 ft. Spring burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 25 ft. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (25 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (25 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (25 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 6 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (25 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Spring pumpkinseed on Big hold shallow, usually 1 to 8 ft. They move out to 2 to 10 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 18 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 1 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly).
| 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 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Big carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 25 ft down.
Access data: MN DNR Water Access Sites (struc_water_access_sites), Minnesota Geospatial Commons. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Big specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Big is about 25 ft (8 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1983 (the DNR's original lake-survey map).
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, rock bass, burbot, pumpkinseed on Big.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 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.
Seven Beaver 3 mi · Round 4 mi · Butterball 5 mi · Pine 6 mi · Sand 9 mi · Bird 10 mi · Greenwood 10 mi · Cadotte 11 mi · Bassett 11 mi · Stony 13 mi · Sullivan 13 mi · Colby 13 mi
See how Big stacks up: best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best northern pike lakes in Minnesota · best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota · best burbot lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: St. Louis County fishing maps (429 charts). Browse all Minnesota 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.