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Fishing Nagel Lake: what the data says
292-acre pond near Koepplin WPA County. North Dakota Game & Fish survey water. The lake tops out around 13 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.
Walleye fishing at Nagel Lake
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 3 to 13 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 13 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 13 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 13 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Northern Pike fishing at Nagel Lake
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 13 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 13 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. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Yellow Perch fishing at Nagel Lake
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 4 to 13 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 13 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 13 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Nagel Lake
Spring smallmouth bass on Nagel Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 13 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 13 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
White Bass fishing at Nagel Lake
Spring white bass on Nagel Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 13 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 13 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 13 ft, rated prime for winter white bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday | see map |
Crappie fishing at Nagel Lake
Spring crappie on Nagel Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 4 to 13 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 13 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Nagel Lake also holds bluegill (3 to 13 ft in summer), channel catfish (4 to 13 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 13 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 10 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
Common questions
How deep is Nagel Lake?
Nagel Lake is about 13 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 Nagel Lake?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, yellow perch on Nagel Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Nagel Lake?
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Nagel Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
Lehr WMA · Mundt Lake · Railroad Lake · Ost Lake · Miller Lake · Green Lake
See how Nagel Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in North Dakota · best walleye lakes in North Dakota · best white bass lakes in North Dakota · best northern pike lakes in North Dakota
Browse all North Dakota fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.