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Rating depth structure for walleye.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
105-acre lake in Sheridan County, Montana. The lake tops out around 18 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Drawn out, this is 105 acres of water rimmed by 1.6 miles of bank. Nearly circular (index 1.1), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Roughly 85% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 0.6 mi, about 0.4 mi across. The water lies in Sheridan County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Blacktail Dam, 45 mi southeast of here.
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 18 ft. Summer keeps them at 5 to 18 ft, and they winter in 4 to 18 ft. Winter rainbow trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 13 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon 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 | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (7 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (13 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (7 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: crappie in 2 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 18 ft, wintering in 5 to 18 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 18 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small 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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (13 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 5 to 18 ft game here, winter a 5 to 18 ft one. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 13 ft of water and rates prime come fall. 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 (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (13 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 18 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 2 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage 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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (13 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Secondary point (7 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
In spring, common carp run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 15 ft before dropping to 5 to 18 ft for winter. Spring common carp concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 2 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
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 | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 18 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 18 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 | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Boxelder Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 18 ft down.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Boxelder Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Boxelder Lake is about 18 ft (5 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 rainbow trout, crappie, walleye, northern pike, common carp, yellow perch on Boxelder Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For rainbow 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 Boxelder Lake is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Blacktail Dam 45 mi, ND · Larsen Dam 49 mi, SK · Cottonwood Lake 53 mi, ND · Trenton Lake 61 mi, ND · Epping-Springbrook Dam 63 mi, ND · Nickle Reservoir 66 mi, SK · Fife Lake 67 mi, SK · McLeod (Ray) Reservoir 70 mi, ND · Boundary Reservoir 73 mi, SK · McGregor Dam 75 mi, ND · Tioga Dam 78 mi, ND · Short Creek Dam 82 mi, ND
See how Boxelder Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Montana · best northern pike lakes in Montana · best crappie lakes in Montana · best rainbow trout lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana 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.