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Rating depth structure for common carp.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
87-acre lake near Freeborn County. The lake tops out around 4 ft. The depth chart comes from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 2008 (a DNR lake survey). The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The outline encloses 87 acres, worked by 2.1 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.6) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. End to end it runs roughly 0.7 mi, about 0.5 mi across. It sits in Freeborn County. White sits 1 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
When the water first warms, common carp slide up into 1 to 4 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 1 to 4 ft, winter 1 to 4 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
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 4 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (4 ft) |
Spring puts black bullhead in skinny water — 1 to 4 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 1 to 4 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 4 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for winter black bullhead. Plan around after dark and the evening in 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 | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 9 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Deep basin (4 ft) | |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 28 ft | midday | Deep basin (4 ft) |
When the water first warms, green sunfish slide up into 1 to 4 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 1 to 4 ft, winter 1 to 4 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a micro jig or a small grub 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 | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 1 to 8 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Micro jig, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Micro jig, Small grub |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 16 ft | midday | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small jig, Micro crankbait |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 22 ft | midday | Deep basin (4 ft) | Tiny hair jig, Micro spoon |
Early season yellow bullhead use the shallows, holding in 1 to 4 ft. Even in summer they hold at 1 to 4 ft; winter keeps them in 1 to 4 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 2 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is after dark.
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 4 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 9 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | night | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Deep basin (4 ft) | |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 28 ft | midday | Deep basin (4 ft) |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 4 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 School Section specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
School Section is about 4 ft (1 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 2008 (a DNR lake survey).
Anglers target common carp, black bullhead, green sunfish, yellow bullhead on School Section.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For common carp, 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 School Section 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.
White 1 mi · Fountain (West Bay) 2 mi · Fountain (East Bay) 3 mi · Pickeral 3 mi · Albert Lea 5 mi · Morin 8 mi · Freeborn 9 mi · Bear 10 mi · Geneva 11 mi · Silver Lake (Worth) 14 mi, IA · Beaver 15 mi · St. Olaf 15 mi
See how School Section stacks up: best common carp lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Freeborn County fishing maps (10 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.