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.
46-acre lake near Williamsport. TWRA Williamsport family lake; named for its redear (shellcracker). The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Shellcracker Lake maps at 47 acres behind 1.8 miles of shoreline. With a 1.8 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 75% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 0.5 mi, about 0.4 mi across. It sits in Maury County. If the bite dies, Blue Cat Lake is 1 mi to the northeast.
When the water first warms, largemouth bass slide up into 2 to 10 ft. Summer is an 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait 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 | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, bluegill slide up into 1 to 6 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig 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 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | open water | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | open water | Tiny spoon |
When the water first warms, channel catfish slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 6 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The feeding windows run after dark 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | open water |
Spring puts blue catfish in skinny water — 4 to 20 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around 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 | 4 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | open water |
Come spring, look for white bass & hybrids tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) is the honest summer answer here.
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 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 20 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Tennessee waters are set by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency — and special regulations can apply to Shellcracker Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Tennessee fishing regulations →
Shellcracker Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, white bass & hybrids on Shellcracker Lake.
For largemouth bass, 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 Shellcracker Lake is regulated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Check the official Tennessee regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Blue Cat Lake 1 mi · Whippoorwill Lake 1 mi · Duck River 15 mi · VFW Lake 28 mi · Harpeth River 30 mi · Laurel Hill Lake 31 mi · Buffalo River 33 mi · Marrowbone Lake 45 mi · J. Percy Priest Lake 47 mi · Bedford County Lake 56 mi · Elk River 59 mi · Normandy Lake 59 mi
See how Shellcracker Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Tennessee · best bluegill lakes in Tennessee · best channel catfish lakes in Tennessee · best white bass & hybrids lakes in Tennessee
Browse all Tennessee fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). 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.