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676-acre lake near North Dakota. North Dakota Game & Fish survey water. The lake tops out around 23 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, Lake Holmes draws 676 acres inside 4.1 miles of shoreline. At index 1.1 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. About 51% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 1.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 1 mi at the beam. The water lies in McLean County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Lake Brekken, 1 mi northwest of here.
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 7 to 23 ft game here, winter a 7 to 23 ft one. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 23 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. Keep a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (23 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (23 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 23 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 23 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 23 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (8 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn | Deep basin (23 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Deep basin (23 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (23 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 23 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: North Dakota Game & Fish — Fishing Facilities. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for North Dakota waters are set by the North Dakota Game and Fish — and special regulations can apply to Lake Holmes specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official North Dakota fishing regulations →
Lake Holmes is about 23 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch on Lake Holmes.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Lake Holmes is regulated by the North Dakota Game and Fish. Check the official North Dakota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Brekken 1 mi · Cottonwood Lake 6 mi · Brush Lake 7 mi · Coal Lake 11 mi · West Park Lake 13 mi · Long Lake 13 mi · East Park Lake 14 mi · Lake Audubon 15 mi · Strawberry Lake 16 mi · Heckers Lake 16 mi · New Johns Lake 18 mi · South (Hoffer) McClusky 19 mi
See how Lake Holmes stacks up: best walleye lakes in North Dakota · best yellow perch lakes in North Dakota
More water nearby: McLean County fishing maps (12 charts). Browse all North Dakota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.