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Rating depth structure for walleye.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
6,278-acre lake near Buck Lake. The lake tops out around 40 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.
Drawn out, this is 6,278 acres of water rimmed by 20.8 miles of bank. Index 1.9 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 42% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 6 mi end to end and 3.4 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Division No. 11. The nearest mapped water is Gosling Lake, 13 mi to the south.
Spring walleye on Buck Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 24 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (6 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (24 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (24 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. Spring northern pike concentrate at Weed flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 8 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (8 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Weed flat (8 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (8 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Weed flat (8 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Weed flat — weed flat, 8 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (8 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (24 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (24 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 12 to 40 ft. Through summer count on 12 to 40 ft; the winter hold is 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 40 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 12 to 40 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (24 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (6 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 12 to 40 ft. The depth story barely changes: 12 to 40 ft through summer, 10 to 40 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 40 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait 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 | 12 to 40 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (40 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (24 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (24 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Count 10 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 40 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Alberta waters are set by the Alberta fishing regulations — and special regulations can apply to Buck Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alberta fishing regulations →
Buck Lake is about 40 ft (12 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 walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, lake whitefish, burbot, rainbow trout on Buck Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Buck Lake is regulated by the Alberta fishing regulations. Check the official Alberta regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Gosling Lake 13 mi · Medicine Lake 17 mi · Twin Lakes 17 mi · Battle Lake 24 mi · Pigeon Lake 29 mi · Crimson Lake 38 mi · Wabamun Lake 38 mi · Wizard Lake 39 mi · Jack Fish Lake 41 mi · Star Lake 42 mi · Hasse Lake 42 mi · Johnnys Lake 43 mi
See how Buck Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Alberta · best northern pike lakes in Alberta · best rainbow trout lakes in Alberta · best yellow perch lakes in Alberta
More water nearby: Division No. 11 fishing maps (25 charts). Browse all Alberta 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.