Lake depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
150-acre lake near Lyon County. The lake tops out around 5 ft. The depth chart comes from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1990 (the DNR's original lake-survey map). The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The outline encloses 150 acres, worked by 2.2 miles of shoreline. Nearly circular (index 1.3), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Figure 0.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.6 mi at the beam. It sits in Lyon County. Goose sits 2 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 1 to 5 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 3 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 | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (3 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (5 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 1 to 5 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 5 ft covers summer, 2 to 5 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 2 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 5 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (5 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (5 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (5 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for northern pike tight to the bank in 1 to 5 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 5 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 5 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 bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage 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 | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, brown bullhead slide up into 1 to 5 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 1 to 5 ft, winter 2 to 5 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 5 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (5 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (5 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: black bullhead in 1 to 5 ft. The depth story barely changes: 1 to 5 ft through summer, 2 to 5 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for black bullhead in winter. Plan around after dark and the evening in 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 | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 9 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Deep basin (5 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 28 ft | midday | Deep basin (5 ft) |
Early season green sunfish use the shallows, holding in 1 to 5 ft. Even in summer they hold at 1 to 5 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 5 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 2 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.
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 5 ft chart-limited; documented 1 to 8 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Micro jig, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Micro jig, Small grub |
| Fall | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 16 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Small jig, Micro crankbait |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 22 ft | midday | Deep basin (5 ft) | Tiny hair jig, Micro spoon |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Island; the deepest is Deep basin at about 5 ft.
Access data: MN DNR Water Access Sites (struc_water_access_sites), Minnesota Geospatial Commons. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Island specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Island is about 5 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1990 (the DNR's original lake-survey map).
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, brown bullhead, black bullhead, green sunfish on Island.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Island 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.
Goose 2 mi · Wood 2 mi · Dead Coon 4 mi · Clear 5 mi · Slough 5 mi · Brawner 5 mi · Stay 8 mi · Rock 8 mi · Sanderson 11 mi · East Twin 11 mi · Yankton 12 mi · Hawksnest 12 mi
See how Island stacks up: best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best northern pike lakes in Minnesota · best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota · best brown bullhead lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Lyon County fishing maps (13 charts). Browse all Minnesota 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.