Lake depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
12-acre lake in Dawson County, Nebraska. The lake tops out around 12 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Drawn out, this is 12 acres of water rimmed by 0.6 miles of bank. Nearly circular (index 1.2), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. The water lies in Dawson County. The nearest mapped water is Johnson Lake, 6 mi to the south.
In spring, crappie run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 12 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for winter crappie. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) 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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (4 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (4 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. Winter channel catfish concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 10 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) |
Spring puts largemouth bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 12 ft, wintering in 4 to 12 ft. Spring largemouth bass concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 2 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
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 | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (4 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Shoreline break (4 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: bluegill sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Shoreline break (4 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring walleye on Darr hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 4 to 12 ft in summer, 4 to 12 ft once it turns cold. Put Shoreline break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 4 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
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 chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline break (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline break (4 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Shoreline break (4 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Come spring, look for white bass tight to the bank in 2 to 12 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 12 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 10 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) 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 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Structure-wise the chart holds 4 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 10 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Nebraska waters are set by the Nebraska Game and Parks — and special regulations can apply to Darr specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nebraska fishing regulations →
Darr is about 12 ft (4 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 crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, walleye, white bass on Darr.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For crappie, 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 Darr is regulated by the Nebraska Game and Parks. Check the official Nebraska regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Johnson Lake 6 mi · Cozad 8 mi · Willow Island 13 mi · Dogwood WMA 14 mi · East Gothenburg WMA 15 mi · Lake Helen 20 mi · Blue Hole West Lake 25 mi · Sandy Channel SRA 26 mi · Brady Lake 31 mi · Union Pacific SRA 32 mi · Medicine Creek 33 mi · Cottonmill Lake 37 mi
See how Darr stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Nebraska · best walleye lakes in Nebraska · best white bass lakes in Nebraska · best crappie lakes in Nebraska
More water nearby: Dawson County fishing maps (6 charts). Browse all Nebraska 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.