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Fishing Coal Lake: what the data says
896-acre lake near North Dakota. North Dakota Game & Fish survey water. The lake tops out around 19 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Walleye fishing at Coal Lake
Spring walleye on Coal Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 6 to 19 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 19 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 19 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 13 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 6 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Coal Lake?
Coal Lake is about 19 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Coal Lake?
Anglers target walleye on Coal Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Coal Lake?
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Coal Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
Lake Audubon · Lake Brekken · Lake Holmes · West Park Lake · Missouri River · Long Lake
See how Coal Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in North Dakota
Browse all North Dakota fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.