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Rating depth structure for crappie.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
18-acre lake near Cass County. The lake tops out around 49 ft. This chart interpolates between a real shoreline and a known maximum depth. It will point you at likely water, but it is not a navigation product. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Margaret maps at 18 acres behind 0.7 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 22% of this chart, as modeled. Call it 0.3 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. Cass County claims this one. Marion sits 0 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 22 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (22 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring crappie on Margaret hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 22 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (22 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (42 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
4 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 42 ft, is the deepest of them.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Rainbow Trout (yearlings) | 616 | — |
| 2024* | Rainbow Trout (yearlings) | 1,054 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Margaret specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Margaret is about 49 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 rainbow trout, crappie on Margaret.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For rainbow 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, Margaret was most recently stocked 2025 with 616 rainbow trout (yearlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Margaret 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.
Marion 0 mi · Donut 0 mi · Mule 1 mi · Washburn 1 mi · Andrus 1 mi · Little Andrus 2 mi · Pavelgrit 2 mi · Roosevelt 3 mi · George 3 mi · Lawrence 3 mi · Smokey Hollow 4 mi · Wood 4 mi
See how Margaret stacks up: best crappie lakes in Minnesota · best rainbow trout lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Cass County fishing maps (217 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.