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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
80-acre lake near Iron County. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The drawn water covers 79 acres wrapped in 1.6 miles of bank. Nearly circular (index 1.3), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Roughly 77% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.6 mi with a 0.3-mi widest point. Iron County claims this one. If the bite dies, Smoky Lake is 1 mi to the northwest.
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Break off the point (15 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Little Smoky Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 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 Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Little Smoky Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Little Smoky Lake is about 20 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 yellow perch, smallmouth bass on Little Smoky 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 5 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Little Smoky 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.
Smoky Lake 1 mi, MI/WI · Big Sand Lake 3 mi, WI · Kaine Lake 3 mi, WI · Robinson Lake 4 mi, WI · Plymouth Lake 4 mi, WI · Long Lake 5 mi, WI · Norwood Lake 5 mi, WI/MI · Brule Lake 5 mi · Secret Lake 5 mi, WI · Homan Lake 5 mi · Ellen Lake 6 mi, WI · Reservoir Lake 6 mi, WI
See how Little Smoky Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best yellow perch lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Iron County fishing maps (57 charts). Browse all Michigan fishing maps or 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.