Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for splake.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
131-acre lake near Cook County. The lake tops out around 55 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
On the chart, Portage draws 132 acres inside 5.7 miles of shoreline. A development index of 3.6 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. About 41% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 1.9 mi long by 0.3 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Cook County. For a second option, East Pope lies 1 mi northeast.
Start shallow in spring: splake sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 17 to 55 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 45 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 47 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 17 to 55 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (47 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Deep basin (47 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
Portage carries 5 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 47 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Portage specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Portage is about 55 ft (17 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.
Anglers target splake on Portage.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 47 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For splake, 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.
Fishing on Portage is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
East Pope 1 mi · Iron 1 mi · One Island 1 mi · West Pope 1 mi · Mayhew 1 mi · Surber 1 mi · Skipper 1 mi · Lum 1 mi · Topper 2 mi · Rush 2 mi · Bedew 2 mi · Little Mayhew 2 mi
See how Portage stacks up: best splake lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Cook County fishing maps (351 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. 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.