Lake depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
147-acre lake in Missouri. MDC-managed public fishing lake. The lake tops out around 19 ft. The depth chart comes from U.S. Geological Survey, Central Midwest Water Science Center bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 147 acres, worked by 4.3 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 2.5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 87% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 1 mi end to end and 0.7 mi across at its widest. It sits in Lafayette County. Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Area sits 8 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 6 to 19 ft game here, winter a 6 to 19 ft one. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
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 | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 6 to 19 ft game here, winter a 6 to 19 ft one. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
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 | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | open water |
Spring bluegill on Higginsville City Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 19 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig.
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 | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | open water | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | open water | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring crappie on Higginsville City Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 6 to 19 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 19 ft. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled).
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 | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | open water | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Higginsville City Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 18 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Missouri waters are set by the Missouri Department of Conservation — and special regulations can apply to Higginsville City Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Missouri fishing regulations →
Higginsville City Lake is about 19 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from U.S. Geological Survey, Central Midwest Water Science Center bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, crappie on Higginsville City Lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
For largemouth bass, 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.
Fishing on Higginsville City Lake is regulated by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Check the official Missouri regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Area 8 mi · Edwin A. Pape Lake 10 mi · Missouri River 14 mi · Hazel Hill Community Lake 16 mi · Blind Pony Lake 17 mi · Lake Wooldridge 27 mi · Blue Springs Lake 35 mi · Lake Jacomo 35 mi · James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area 37 mi · James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area 37 mi · James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area 37 mi · James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area 37 mi
See how Higginsville City Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Missouri · best crappie lakes in Missouri · best bluegill lakes in Missouri · best channel catfish lakes in Missouri
Browse all Missouri fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Central Midwest Water Science Center Higginsville Reservoir (Upper and Lower) near Higginsville, Missouri, 2020 (NAVD88; 0% measured, 98% source-interpolated). 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.