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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
39-acre lake near Leelanau County. The lake tops out around 5 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The outline encloses 36 acres, worked by 1 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.4 mi with a 0.2-mi widest point. It sits in Leelanau County. If the bite dies, Little Traverse Lake is 6 mi to the southwest.
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 1 to 5 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for fall yellow perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | dawn | Deep basin (4 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Deep basin (4 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (4 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Duck Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 5 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 5 ft in summer, 2 to 5 ft once it turns cold. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 3 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | open water | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring smallmouth bass on Duck Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 5 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 5 ft in summer, 2 to 5 ft once it turns cold. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 2 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts rock bass in skinny water — 1 to 5 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 1 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. Summer rock bass concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 2 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Deep basin (4 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Spring brown bullhead on Duck Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 5 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 1 to 5 ft in summer, 2 to 5 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 4 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | dusk & night | open water | |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (4 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | dusk | Deep basin (4 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Deep basin (4 ft) |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 1 to 5 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 5 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 5 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 4 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (4 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | dusk | Deep basin (4 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Deep basin (4 ft) |
Duck Lake also holds common carp (1 to 5 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 4 structure features on Duck Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 4 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Duck Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Duck Lake is about 5 ft (2 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 yellow perch, northern pike, smallmouth bass, rock bass, brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp on Duck 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.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For yellow perch, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Duck Lake is regulated by the Michigan DNR. Check the official Michigan regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Little Traverse Lake 6 mi · Lake Leelanau 6 mi · Shell Lake 7 mi · School Lake 8 mi · Lime Lake 8 mi · Glen Lake 13 mi · Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays 13 mi · Cedar Lake 14 mi · Stevens Lake 17 mi · Garey Lake 17 mi · Cedar Lake 17 mi · Coffield Lake 17 mi
See how Duck Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best channel catfish lakes in Michigan · best yellow perch lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Leelanau County fishing maps (9 charts). Browse all Michigan fishing maps or 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.