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29-acre lake in Carbon County, Montana. The lake tops out around 20 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. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
There are 1.3 miles of drawn shoreline to work. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 89% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.3 mi with a 0.3-mi widest point. Carbon County claims this one. If the bite dies, Two Bits Lake is 1 mi to the east.
Come spring, look for brook trout tight to the bank in 2 to 15 ft. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 20 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 5 to 20 ft, winter 4 to 20 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 14 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (14 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (14 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cutthroat trout in 3 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 20 ft, wintering in 5 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 14 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (14 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 5 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (14 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The chart marks 4 structure features on Donelson Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 20 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Donelson Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Donelson Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target brook trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout on Donelson Lake. This isn't a survey of the lake — none is on record for it — but an informed estimate from the species listed for the nearest surveyed lakes in the region, filtered to this lake's depth and habitat.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For brook 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.
Fishing on Donelson Lake is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Two Bits Lake 1 mi · Cloverleaf Lake #216 1 mi · Crystal Lake (Carbon) 1 mi · Cloverleaf Lake #215 1 mi · Cloverleaf Lake #223 1 mi · Flat Rock Lake 2 mi · Golden Lake 2 mi · Castle Lake 2 mi · North Hidden Lake 2 mi · Varve Lake (Forsaken Lake) 2 mi · Green Lake (Carbon) 2 mi · Erratic Lake (Carbon) 3 mi
See how Donelson Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best brook trout lakes in Montana · best cutthroat trout lakes in Montana
More water nearby: Carbon County fishing maps (65 charts). Browse all Montana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.