Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for brook trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
142-acre lake near Dickinson County. The lake tops out around 31 ft. The depth chart comes from Michigan Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
There are 2.2 miles of drawn shoreline to work. With a 1.7 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. 68% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 1 mi with a 0.2-mi widest point. It sits in Dickinson County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Louise Lake, is 1 mi to the southwest.
Early season brook trout use the shallows, holding in 2 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 20 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 29 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm and you're in the game.
| 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 | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (29 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 | Break off the point (8 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 9 to 31 ft before dropping to 9 to 31 ft for winter. Winter walleye concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 29 ft. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (8 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (29 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Come spring, look for bluegill tight to the bank in 1 to 6 ft. Expect a summer slide to 4 to 15 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 25 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (8 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (29 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
When the water first warms, crappie slide up into 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 10 to 25 ft game here, winter a 9 to 31 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 29 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (29 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 31 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (8 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. Summer is an 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Hamilton Lake also holds rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer), yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 6 structure features on Hamilton Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 29 ft.
Access data: Michigan DNR — Michigan Boating Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2025 | Walleye | 554 | ~9.1" |
Source: Michigan DNR fish-stocking database, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Hamilton Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Hamilton Lake is about 31 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Michigan Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target brook trout, walleye, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, yellow perch on Hamilton Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 29 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. 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 Michigan DNR fish-stocking database records, Hamilton Lake was most recently stocked Sep 3, 2025 with 554 walleye. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Hamilton 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.
Louise Lake 1 mi · Mary Lake 2 mi · Sturgeon Falls Flowage 4 mi, WI/MI · Lake Shannon 5 mi, WI · Echo Lake 6 mi, WI · Twin Lake 7 mi, WI · Otter Lake 8 mi, WI · Timms Lake 8 mi, WI · Long Lake 8 mi, WI · Hermansville Lake 9 mi · Little Quinnesec Falls Flowage 10 mi, WI/MI · Luedevitz Lake 11 mi, WI
See how Hamilton Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan · best walleye lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best crappie lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Dickinson County fishing maps (15 charts). Browse all Michigan fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Inland lake maps. 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.