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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
46-acre lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. The lake tops out around 23 ft. The depth chart comes from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The outline encloses 46 acres, worked by 1.5 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.5) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 81% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.6 mi with a 0.3-mi widest point. Oconto County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Bass Lake, is 1 mi to the north.
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is a 6 to 23 ft game here, winter a 5 to 23 ft one. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 20 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon 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 | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 23 ft, and winter fish settle into 7 to 23 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 23 ft, rated prime for fall yellow perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
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 | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (23 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (23 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (23 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring largemouth bass on Nelligan Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 23 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 20 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait.
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 | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (20 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Early season crappie use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 7 to 23 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 23 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 23 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (23 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Early season bluegill use the shallows, holding in 1 to 6 ft. Summer is a 4 to 15 ft game here, winter a 7 to 23 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 1 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig and you're in the game.
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 | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (20 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (23 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Nelligan Lake carries 5 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 23 ft down.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024* | Rainbow Trout (yearling) | 1,056 | ~8" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Wisconsin waters are set by the Wisconsin DNR — and special regulations can apply to Nelligan Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
Nelligan Lake is about 23 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target rainbow trout, yellow perch, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill on Nelligan 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.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary records, Nelligan Lake was most recently stocked 2024 with 1,056 rainbow trout (yearling). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Nelligan 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.
Bass Lake 1 mi · Grindle Lake 1 mi · Gilkey Lake 2 mi · Crooked Lake 2 mi · Waupee Flowage 2 mi · Sunrise Lake 3 mi · Boundary Lake 3 mi · Bear Paw Lake 4 mi · Ledge Lake 4 mi · Rollins Lake 4 mi · Wonder Lake 5 mi · Fryingpan Lake 5 mi
See how Nelligan Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best crappie lakes in Wisconsin · best bluegill lakes in Wisconsin · best rainbow trout lakes in Wisconsin
More water nearby: Oconto County fishing maps (135 charts). Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Lake maps. 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.