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165-acre lake near Becker County. The lake tops out around 22 ft. Bathymetry on this water is estimated from its real outline and maximum depth. Use it to shortlist water, then verify with your electronics — and never navigate by it. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 166 acres, worked by 5.6 miles of shoreline, broken up by 3 islands. The 3.1 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. 98% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 0.8 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.6 mi at the beam. It sits in Becker County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Morrison, is 1 mi to the northwest.
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 7 to 22 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 22 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) 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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (10 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season green sunfish use the shallows, holding in 1 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 22 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a micro jig or a small grub and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig, Small grub |
| Fall | 4 to 16 ft | midday | Break off the point (10 ft) | Small jig, Micro crankbait |
| Winter | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tiny hair jig, Micro spoon |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 19 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Hernando DeSoto specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Hernando DeSoto is about 22 ft (7 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 walleye, green sunfish on Hernando DeSoto.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 Hernando DeSoto 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.
Morrison 1 mi · Elk 3 mi · Little Mantrap 4 mi · Kane 4 mi · Mary 4 mi · Dinner 5 mi · Beauty 5 mi · Twin 5 mi · Itasca 5 mi · Boot 5 mi · Cedar 6 mi · Hungry Man 6 mi
See how Hernando DeSoto stacks up: best walleye lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Becker County fishing maps (99 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.