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Rating depth structure for yellow perch.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
123-acre lake near Schoolcraft County. The lake tops out around 17 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Shoreline on the chart totals 2.1 miles. Index 1.7 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. Call it 0.9 mi long by 0.3 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Schoolcraft County. For a second option, Tee Lake lies 1 mi east.
Spring yellow perch on Ford Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 5 to 17 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 17 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 16 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.
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 | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (16 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (16 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (16 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 16 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Ford Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Ford Lake is about 17 ft (5 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 on Ford Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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 Ford 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.
Tee Lake 1 mi · Mezik Lake 3 mi · Stewart Lake 3 mi · Kennedy Lake 4 mi · Cedar Lake 5 mi · Milakokia Lake 7 mi · South Manistique Lake 7 mi · Manistique Lake 9 mi · Millaquaka Lake 10 mi · McDonald Lake 12 mi · Merwin Lake 12 mi · North Manistique Lake 13 mi
See how Ford Lake stacks up: best yellow perch lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Schoolcraft County fishing maps (54 charts). Browse all Michigan 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.