Muskrat Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (Burnett County, WI)

Lake depth chart

Muskrat Lake, WI

Max 14 ft

Today's read

Where to start

Fall shiner run window is on — see the hatch outlook

Target species

Species from state lake data, resolved by location. These species come from the Wisconsin DNR's own per-lake fish listing. Where the DNR reports a group rather than a species — “panfish”, “catfish”, “trout” — the specific species are resolved from Wisconsin's fish distribution by this lake's location, depth and habitat, so those are an informed estimate, not a per-species survey. The named gamefish (walleye, musky, bass, pike, sturgeon…) are the DNR's own listing. (The depth chart is a computer-generated estimate from the lake's real shoreline and the DNR's maximum depth — not measured contours.) How we estimate species →

Hatch outlook

Fall shiner runActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Oct 31 · colder nights and shortening days start the push in early September — shiners slide out of open water toward warmer shallows and run up the rivers; the Rainy River run off Lake of the Woods is the marquee version

adultdaylight for the jig bite; after dark the shiners stack under dock lights with walleyes and pike mixed right in — follow the bait, not the spot — millions of shiners move together and the predators ride with them; silver profile and flash matter

Concentrates hard but travels — the school (and the walleyes under it) can be off a river mouth one week and miles upriver the next.

Jig-and-minnow is the event's signature — a frozen emerald shiner on a 1/4 oz jig drifted along the run; silver jerkbaits and trolled crankbaits take the roaming fish; blade baits under the schools.

The event happens over river mouths and the first miles upriver, warming shallow shorelines, and rocky points where the displaced bait stacks

Next on this water

Hex (giant mayfly) · mayflyJun 15 – Aug 15 · in ~10 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Muskrat Lake

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Muskrat Lake on the board.

Fishing Muskrat Lake: what the data says

7-acre lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin. The lake tops out around 14 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. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.

The outline encloses 7 acres, worked by 0.4 miles of shoreline. At index 1.1 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. It sits in Burnett County. Little Wood Lake sits 0 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.

Yellow Perch fishing at Muskrat Lake

In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 14 ft before dropping to 4 to 14 ft for winter. Fall yellow perch concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 12 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	midday & dawn	open water	Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank
Summer	4 to 14 ft	dawn	Deep basin (12 ft)	Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm
Fall	4 to 14 ft	midday	Deep basin (12 ft)	Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader
Winter	4 to 14 ft	midday & dawn	Deep basin (12 ft)	Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small)

Crappie fishing at Muskrat Lake

Early season crappie use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 4 to 14 ft game here, winter a 4 to 14 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 12 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.

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	4 to 14 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (6 ft)	Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled)
Fall	4 to 14 ft	dawn	Break off the point (6 ft)	Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2")
Winter	4 to 14 ft	midday	Deep basin (12 ft)	Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon

Bluegill fishing at Muskrat Lake

Early season bluegill use the shallows, holding in 1 to 6 ft. Expect a summer slide to 4 to 14 ft, then a winter hold in 4 to 14 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 12 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 6 ft	midday & dusk	open water	1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings)
Summer	4 to 14 ft	dawn & dusk	open water	Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig
Fall	4 to 14 ft	midday	Break off the point (6 ft)	Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped
Winter	4 to 14 ft	midday	Deep basin (12 ft)	Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon

Pumpkinseed fishing at Muskrat Lake

In spring, pumpkinseed run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 14 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 12 ft, rated prime for winter pumpkinseed. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 8 ft	midday & dusk	open water	Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin
Summer	2 to 10 ft	dusk & dawn	open water	Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly)
Fall	4 to 14 ft	dusk & dawn	Break off the point (6 ft)	Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped
Winter	4 to 14 ft	dawn	Deep basin (12 ft)	Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon

Notable structure

Count 3 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 12 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 12 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 6 ft

Muskrat Lake fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Wisconsin waters are set by the Wisconsin DNR — and special regulations can apply to Muskrat Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Muskrat Lake?

Muskrat Lake is about 14 ft (4 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.

What fish are in Muskrat Lake?

Anglers target yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed on Muskrat Lake. These come from the Wisconsin DNR's per-lake fish listing; where the DNR lists a group (panfish, catfish, trout) the specific species are resolved from Wisconsin's fish distribution by the lake's location, depth and habitat.

Where is the best fishing spot on Muskrat Lake?

Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Muskrat 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.

What are the fishing regulations for Muskrat Lake?

Fishing on Muskrat Lake is regulated by the Wisconsin DNR. Check the official Wisconsin regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Little Wood Lake 0 mi · Silver Lake 1 mi · Indian Lake 1 mi · Wood Lake 2 mi · Spirit Lake 2 mi · Grimhs Lake 2 mi · Peterson Lake 3 mi · Rice Lake 3 mi · Blom Lake 3 mi · Dunham Lake 4 mi · Little Dunham Lake 4 mi · Mud Hen Lake 4 mi

See how Muskrat Lake stacks up: best crappie lakes in Wisconsin · best bluegill lakes in Wisconsin · best yellow perch lakes in Wisconsin · best pumpkinseed lakes in Wisconsin

More water nearby: Burnett County fishing maps (183 charts). Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or 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.

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