Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
63-acre lake near Lake County. The lake tops out around 45 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The drawn water covers 63 acres wrapped in 1.9 miles of bank. With a 1.7 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 47% of this chart, as modeled. Figure 0.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.3 mi at the beam. Lake County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Vera, is 1 mi to the south.
Start shallow in spring: cisco (lake herring) sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 14 to 45 ft; cold water stacks them in 14 to 45 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 38 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic 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 | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (38 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 14 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (38 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 14 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (38 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 5 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 11 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (20 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Portage; the deepest is Deep basin at about 38 ft.
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 45 ft (14 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 cisco (lake herring), northern pike, smallmouth bass on Portage.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 38 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For cisco (lake herring), 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.
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.
Vera 1 mi · Trader 1 mi · Neglige 1 mi · Arkose 1 mi · Explorer 2 mi · Ensign 2 mi · Frog 2 mi · Trident 3 mi · Ashigan 3 mi · Gibson 4 mi · Kettle 4 mi · Birch 4 mi, MN/ON
See how Portage stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best northern pike lakes in Minnesota · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Lake County fishing maps (313 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.