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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
77-acre lake near Cook County. The lake tops out around 35 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Drawn out, this is 77 acres of water rimmed by 2.9 miles of bank. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.3) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 54% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 0.9 mi end to end and 0.4 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Cook County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Olga, 1 mi southwest of here.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brook trout in 2 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 3 to 20 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Start shallow in spring: splake sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 11 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) 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 | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 16 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon 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 | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring brown trout on Esther hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 11 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 35 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 16 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run after dark and early morning. The summer box starts with a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night).
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 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
The chart marks 7 structure features on Esther; the deepest is Deep basin at about 30 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Brook Trout (fingerlings) | 1,902 | — |
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearlings) | 2,000 | — |
| 2024* | Rainbow Trout (yearlings) | 2,000 | — |
| 2024* | Splake (fingerlings) | 2,520 | — |
* 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 Esther specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Esther is about 35 ft (11 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, brown trout on Esther.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. The interactive chart above rates every 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, Esther was most recently stocked 2025 with 1,902 brook trout (fingerlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Esther 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.
Olga 1 mi · Edith 1 mi · Chester 1 mi · Devilfish 1 mi · Sunfish 2 mi · Margaret 3 mi · Loft 3 mi · Greenwood 3 mi · North Shady 4 mi · Tom 4 mi · Stump 5 mi · Otter 5 mi
See how Esther stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Minnesota · best brown trout lakes in Minnesota · best brook trout lakes in Minnesota · best splake lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Cook County fishing maps (351 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.