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Fishing Minnow Lake: what the data says
38-acre lake near Schoolcraft County. The lake tops out around 5 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Yellow Perch fishing at Minnow Lake
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 1 to 5 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Northern Pike fishing at Minnow Lake
Spring northern pike on Minnow Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 5 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Minnow Lake
Spring smallmouth bass on Minnow Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 5 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 2 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Rock Bass fishing at Minnow Lake
Start shallow in spring: rock bass sit in 1 to 5 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 1 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for summer rock bass. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Tie on a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Pumpkinseed fishing at Minnow Lake
In spring, pumpkinseed run shallow here, mostly 1 to 5 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for pumpkinseed in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dusk | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft | dusk & dawn | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 1 to 5 ft | dusk & dawn | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | dawn | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Brown Bullhead fishing at Minnow Lake
Start shallow in spring: brown bullhead sit in 1 to 5 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 1 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for winter brown bullhead. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | dusk & night | |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday |
Minnow Lake also holds common carp (1 to 5 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 4 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 2 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Minnow Lake?
Minnow Lake is about 5 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Minnow Lake?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, common carp, rock bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Minnow 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.
Where is the best fishing spot on Minnow Lake?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Minnow Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
Merwin Lake · Palmer Lake · Gulliver Lake · Marblehead Lake · Clear Lake · McDonald Lake
See how Minnow Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best yellow perch lakes in Michigan · best common carp lakes in Michigan
Browse all Michigan fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.