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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
22-acre lake near Ogemaw County. The lake tops out around 42 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Traced from the shoreline, Big Williams Lake runs 26 acres with 0.9 miles of edge. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Roughly 26% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 0.3 mi, about 0.2 mi across. You'll find it in Ogemaw County. For a second option, Stylus Lake lies 2 mi east.
In spring, brook trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 20 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 19 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (19 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Winter rainbow trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 19 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (19 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for brown trout tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 13 to 42 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 35 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 19 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 13 to 42 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 13 to 42 ft before dropping to 13 to 42 ft for winter. Summer chinook salmon concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 39 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (19 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 13 to 42 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (39 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 8 to 42 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (19 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 13 to 42 ft | midday | Deep basin (39 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Early season cisco (lake herring) use the shallows, holding in 10 to 40 ft. Summer is a 13 to 42 ft game here, winter a 13 to 42 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 39 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (39 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 13 to 42 ft | dawn | Deep basin (39 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 13 to 42 ft | dawn | Deep basin (39 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Come spring, look for yellow perch tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (8 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (19 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (19 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (39 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Big Williams Lake also holds northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer), largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer), rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
4 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 39 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Williams Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Big Williams Lake is about 42 ft (13 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 brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, chinook salmon, cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, common carp on Big Williams 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 39 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. 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 Williams 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.
Stylus Lake 2 mi · Sage Lake 2 mi · Laird Lake 4 mi · George Lake 5 mi · Grebe Lake 5 mi · West Londo Lake 5 mi · Devoe Lake 6 mi · Rifle Lake 6 mi · Boughner Lake 6 mi · South Dease Lake 6 mi · North Dease Lake 7 mi · Birch Lake 7 mi
See how Big Williams Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best bluegill lakes in Michigan · best rainbow trout lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Ogemaw County fishing maps (30 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.