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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
40-acre lake near Itasca County. The lake tops out around 56 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, Erskine draws 41 acres inside 1.2 miles of shoreline. Its 1.3 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 21% of this chart, as modeled. Figure 0.4 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.3 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Itasca County. The nearest mapped water is Sucker, 1 mi to the west.
Spring puts brook trout in skinny water — 2 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 3 to 20 ft. Summer brook trout concentrate at Shoreline break, a prime-rated drop-off around 25 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (25 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Spring puts splake in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 17 to 56 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 45 ft. Shoreline break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 25 ft, rated prime for summer splake. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) 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 | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (25 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 17 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (25 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (25 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (25 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. Shoreline break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 25 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (25 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (25 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (25 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 4 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 48 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearlings) | 1,426 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-09-11.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Erskine specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Erskine is about 56 ft (17 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 brook trout, splake, rainbow trout on Erskine.
Shoreline break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 25 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
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.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Erskine was most recently stocked 2025 with 1,426 rainbow trout (yearlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Erskine 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.
Sucker 1 mi · Bass 1 mi · Duck 1 mi · Pickerel 2 mi · Deer 3 mi · Battle 3 mi · Larson 3 mi · Poplar 4 mi · Coon 4 mi · Little Bass 4 mi · Wilson 5 mi · Little Coon 5 mi
See how Erskine stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Minnesota · best brook trout lakes in Minnesota · best splake 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.