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Rating depth structure for walleye.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
1,142,000-acre lake near St. Laurent. The lake tops out around 21 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Lake Manitoba runs 1,133,213 acres with 1068.2 miles of edge, with 196 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 7.2, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 65% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 122.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 35.3 mi at the beam. The water lies in Division No. 18. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Mantagao Lake, 41 mi northeast of here.
Come spring, look for walleye tight to the bank in 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 6 to 21 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 21 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Creek inflow: an inflow / creek mouth around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) 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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Creek inflow (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (12 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (12 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring sauger on Lake Manitoba hold shallow, usually 4 to 18 ft. They move out to 6 to 21 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 21 ft. Put Creek inflow first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait.
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 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (4 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Old creek channel (20 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Old creek channel (20 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for yellow perch tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 21 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 21 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 6 to 21 ft. Even in summer they hold at 6 to 21 ft; winter keeps them in 6 to 21 ft. Put Gravel shoal first on the milk run — a gravel shoal near 6 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Gravel shoal (6 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Gravel shoal (6 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
In spring, freshwater drum run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 21 ft before dropping to 6 to 21 ft for winter. Spring freshwater drum concentrate at Gravel shoal, a prime-rated gravel shoal around 6 ft. Fish it in the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) 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 | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Gravel shoal (6 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (20 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | midday | Old creek channel (20 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Lake Manitoba also holds burbot (6 to 21 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 65 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 20 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Manitoba waters are set by the Manitoba anglers' guide — and special regulations can apply to Lake Manitoba specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Manitoba fishing regulations →
Lake Manitoba is about 21 ft (6 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, sauger, northern pike, yellow perch, lake whitefish, freshwater drum, burbot, common carp on Lake Manitoba.
Creek inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. 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 Lake Manitoba is regulated by the Manitoba anglers' guide. Check the official Manitoba regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Mantagao Lake 41 mi · St Andrew Lake 76 mi · Lake Winnipeg 89 mi · Elk Lake 96 mi · Singush Lake 98 mi · Wellman Lake 108 mi · Wanipigow Lake 122 mi · Batka Lake 129 mi, SK · Boomerang Lake 129 mi, SK · Jackfish Lake 130 mi, SK · Madge Lake 133 mi, SK · Rice Lake 134 mi
See how Lake Manitoba stacks up: best walleye lakes in Manitoba · best northern pike lakes in Manitoba · best yellow perch lakes in Manitoba · best lake whitefish lakes in Manitoba
Browse all Manitoba 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.