Lake depth chart
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12-acre lake in Washington. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 12 acres wrapped in 0.5 miles of bank. Nearly circular (index 1.1), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 85% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. If the bite dies, Port Gamble Bay is 5 mi to the south.
Spring rainbow trout on Buck Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 5 to 20 ft in summer, 4 to 20 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 11 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter 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 | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 4 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait 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 | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (11 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 20 ft before dropping to 6 to 20 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
When the water first warms, crappie slide up into 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 6 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 19 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small 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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
In spring, cutthroat trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 20 ft for winter. Summer cutthroat trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 11 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner 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 | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Structure-wise the chart holds 3 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 19 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18 | Cutthroat trout | 1,000 | — |
| Apr 13 | Rainbow trout | 800 | — |
| Feb 5 | Rainbow trout | 20 | — |
Source: WDFW fish-stocking reports, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Washington waters are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Buck Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Washington fishing regulations →
Buck Lake is about 20 ft (6 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, largemouth bass, yellow perch, crappie, cutthroat trout on Buck Lake.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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.
Yes — per WDFW fish-stocking reports records, Buck Lake was most recently stocked Aug 18 with 1,000 cutthroat trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Buck Lake is regulated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official Washington regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Port Gamble Bay 5 mi · Lone Lake 9 mi · Deer Lake 9 mi · Lake Goss 9 mi · Browns Bay 11 mi · Lake Serene 13 mi · Anderson Lake 13 mi · Liberty Bay 14 mi · Stickney Lake 14 mi · Leland Lake 15 mi · Crocker Lake 15 mi · Martha Lake 15 mi
See how Buck Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Washington · best crappie lakes in Washington · best rainbow trout lakes in Washington · best yellow perch lakes in Washington
Browse all Washington 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.