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Rating depth structure for walleye.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
1,444-acre lake near North Dakota. North Dakota Game & Fish survey water. The lake tops out around 24 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.
Drawn out, this is 1,444 acres of water rimmed by 5.9 miles of bank. Its 1.1 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. 59% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 2.2 mi long by 1.6 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Kidder County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Sibley Lake, 3 mi southwest of here.
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 7 to 24 ft game here, winter a 7 to 24 ft one. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 22 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.
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 | Main-lake point (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (22 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (24 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 24 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 24 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Back-bay flat: a weed flat around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. 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.
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 | Back-bay flat (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (24 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (24 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (24 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
McPhail WMA carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 24 ft down.
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 McPhail WMA specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official North Dakota fishing regulations →
McPhail WMA is about 24 ft (7 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, yellow perch on McPhail WMA.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. 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 McPhail WMA 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.
Sibley Lake 3 mi · Horsehead Lake 7 mi · Des Moines Lake 11 mi · Lake Williams 11 mi · Cherry Lake 11 mi · Lake Isabel 11 mi · Crystal Springs 13 mi · Frettim Lake 13 mi · South Stink Lake 14 mi · Stink Lake 14 mi · Reule Lake 15 mi · Foot Lake 16 mi
See how McPhail WMA stacks up: best walleye lakes in North Dakota · best yellow perch lakes in North Dakota
More water nearby: Kidder County fishing maps (19 charts). Browse all North Dakota 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.