Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
10-acre lake in Sweet Grass County, Montana. The lake tops out around 30 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The outline encloses 10 acres, worked by 0.5 miles of shoreline. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 30% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Sweet Grass County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Pentad Lake, is 1 mi to the southwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 9 to 30 ft, wintering in 9 to 30 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 24 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
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 (7 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (24 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (24 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 7 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 30 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 30 ft, rated prime for fall yellow perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season smallmouth bass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 9 to 30 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 24 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (24 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (24 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter a 6 to 30 ft one. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 24 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon 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 | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (24 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (24 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 6 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (24 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring lake trout on Jordan Lake (Sweet Grass) hold shallow, usually 8 to 30 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 9 to 30 ft in summer, 8 to 30 ft once it turns cold. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 30 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger.
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 | 8 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 6 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 8 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Jordan Lake (Sweet Grass) also holds crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer), cutthroat trout (9 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
3 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 30 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Jordan Lake (Sweet Grass) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Jordan Lake (Sweet Grass) is about 30 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, lake trout, crappie, channel catfish, cutthroat trout on Jordan Lake (Sweet Grass). 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.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Jordan Lake (Sweet Grass) is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Pentad Lake 1 mi · Fish Lake (Sweet Grass) 2 mi · Wounded Man Lake 3 mi · Owl Lake (Sweet Grass) 3 mi · Rainbow Lake, Upper (Rainbow #2) 4 mi · Sienna Lake 4 mi · Mirror Lake 5 mi · Lake Surrender 5 mi · Cimmerian Lake 5 mi · Narrow Escape Lake 6 mi · Lightning Lake 7 mi · Jasper Lake (Tumble Lake) 8 mi
See how Jordan Lake (Sweet Grass) stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Montana · best walleye lakes in Montana · best northern pike lakes in Montana · best crappie lakes in Montana
More water nearby: Sweet Grass County fishing maps (10 charts). Browse all Montana 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.