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Rating depth structure for yellow perch.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
86-acre lake near Grand Traverse County. The lake tops out around 14 ft. The depth chart comes from Michigan Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 91 acres wrapped in 1.9 miles of bank. A shoreline index of 1.4 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Figure 0.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.3 mi at the beam. It sits in Grand Traverse County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Rennie Lake, is 2 mi to the southeast.
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 4 to 14 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 14 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring northern pike on Indian Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 4 to 14 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 14 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
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 (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring muskellunge on Indian Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 14 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 14 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper).
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 | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Spring smallmouth bass on Indian Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 4 to 14 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 14 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 3 ft that grades good for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
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 | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 4 to 14 ft game here, winter a 4 to 14 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. 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 | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts rock bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 14 ft, wintering in 4 to 14 ft. Winter rock bass concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 11 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig 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 | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Indian Lake also holds bluegill (4 to 14 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 14 ft in summer), longnose gar (1 to 12 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 11 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Indian Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Indian Lake is about 14 ft (4 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 yellow perch, northern pike, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, common carp, longnose gar on Indian Lake. This isn't a survey of the lake — none is on record for it — but an informed estimate from the species listed for the nearest surveyed lakes in the region, filtered to this lake's depth and habitat.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 Indian 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.
Rennie Lake 2 mi · High Lake 2 mi · Arbutus Lake 3 mi · Dollar Lake 3 mi · Boardman River 4 mi · Guernsey Lake 8 mi · Boardman Lake 8 mi · Truax Lake 8 mi · Haynes Lake 9 mi · Smith Lake 9 mi · Island Lake 10 mi · Silver Lake 10 mi
See how Indian Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan · best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best bluegill lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Grand Traverse County fishing maps (23 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.