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Rating depth structure for brook trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
14-acre lake near Cook County. The lake tops out around 48 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Drawn out, this is 15 acres of water rimmed by 0.6 miles of bank. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. About 24% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. You'll find it in Cook County. For a second option, Margaret lies 2 mi southeast.
In spring, brook trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 20 ft. Shoreline break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 22 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
In spring, splake run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 14 to 48 ft before dropping to 10 to 45 ft for winter. Summer splake concentrate at Shoreline break, a prime-rated drop-off around 22 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) 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 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
Loft carries 4 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 41 ft down.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024* | Brook Trout (fingerlings) | 1,380 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-09-11.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Loft specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Loft is about 48 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brook trout, splake on Loft.
Shoreline break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Loft was most recently stocked 2024 with 1,380 brook trout (fingerlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Loft 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.
Margaret 2 mi · Devilfish 2 mi · Chester 2 mi · McFarland 3 mi · Esther 3 mi · Little John 3 mi · Edith 3 mi · Otter 3 mi · Olga 3 mi · Stump 4 mi · John 4 mi · South Fowl 4 mi
See how Loft stacks up: best brook trout lakes in Minnesota · best splake lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Cook County fishing maps (351 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.