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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
1,792-acre lake in Manitoba. The lake tops out around 33 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Traced from the shoreline, Bird Lake runs 1,777 acres with 17.3 miles of edge — 4 islands included. A development index of 2.9 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 78% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Call it 5.5 mi long by 1.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Division No. 19. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Booster Lake, 4 mi southeast of here.
Spring cisco (lake herring) on Bird Lake hold shallow, usually 8 to 33 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 10 to 33 ft in summer, 10 to 33 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 33 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic.
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 33 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (33 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 10 to 33 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 2 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (2 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (2 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season sauger use the shallows, holding in 4 to 18 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 10 to 33 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 33 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait 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 | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (33 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Deep basin (33 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 10 to 33 ft game here, winter a 10 to 33 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 33 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run 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 (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Deep basin (33 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring lake whitefish on Bird Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 33 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 10 to 33 ft in summer, 10 to 33 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 33 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon.
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 33 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 33 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 33 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (33 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Bird Lake also holds northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Bird Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 33 ft down.
Access data: Manitoba — Waterbody Entry Points. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Manitoba waters are set by the Manitoba anglers' guide — and special regulations can apply to Bird Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Manitoba fishing regulations →
Bird Lake is about 33 ft (10 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 cisco (lake herring), smallmouth bass, sauger, walleye, lake whitefish, yellow perch, northern pike on Bird Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 33 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 Bird Lake is regulated by the Manitoba anglers' guide. Check the official Manitoba regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Booster Lake 4 mi · Narraway Lake 9 mi, ON · Reynar Lake 10 mi, ON · Huston Lake 11 mi, ON · Wilson Lake 12 mi, ON · Black Lake 13 mi · Wingiskus Lake 17 mi, ON · Trapline Lake 17 mi, ON · Gordon Lake 17 mi, ON · Bee Lake 19 mi, ON · Tooth Lake 19 mi · Chase Lake 20 mi, ON
See how Bird Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Manitoba · best walleye lakes in Manitoba · best northern pike lakes in Manitoba · best yellow perch lakes in Manitoba
More water nearby: Division No. 19 fishing maps (9 charts). Browse all Manitoba 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.