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Rating depth structure for brown bullhead.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
186-acre lake near Itasca County. The lake tops out around 7 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The drawn water covers 187 acres wrapped in 2.8 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.5) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. Figure 1 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.5 mi at the beam. Itasca County claims this one. Smith sits 2 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring brown bullhead on Carlson hold shallow, usually 2 to 7 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 7 ft in summer, 2 to 7 ft once it turns cold. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 6 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
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 7 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (6 ft) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Main-lake point at roughly 7 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Carlson specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Carlson is about 7 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brown bullhead on Carlson.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For brown bullhead, the summer bite is best in after dark 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 Carlson is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Smith 2 mi · Hale 4 mi · Mountain Ash 5 mi · Pokegama Lake 5 mi · Split Hand 5 mi · Dinner Pail 6 mi · Little Split Hand 6 mi · Little Cowhorn 6 mi · Horseshoe 6 mi · Siseebakwet 6 mi · South Sugar 7 mi · Previs 8 mi
See how Carlson stacks up: best brown bullhead lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Itasca County fishing maps (371 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.