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13-acre reservoir near Cottonwood County. The lake tops out around 15 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 13 acres, worked by 0.9 miles of shoreline. With a 1.8 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Call it 0.3 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Cottonwood County. If the bite dies, Wellner-Hageman Reservoir is 6 mi to the east.
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 13 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for crappie tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 5 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 13 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) 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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny 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 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 13 ft that scores prime in winter. 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 | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: black bullhead in 2 to 9 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 15 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for black bullhead in winter. 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 | 2 to 9 ft | dusk & night | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 28 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) |
Early season green sunfish use the shallows, holding in 1 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 13 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a micro jig or a small grub 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 8 ft | midday | open water | Micro jig, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Micro jig, Small grub |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 16 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Small jig, Micro crankbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 22 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tiny hair jig, Micro spoon |
Shoper-Bush Reservoir carries 3 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 13 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 Shoper-Bush Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Shoper-Bush Reservoir is about 15 ft (5 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 yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, black bullhead, green sunfish on Shoper-Bush Reservoir.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For yellow perch, 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 Shoper-Bush Reservoir 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.
Wellner-Hageman Reservoir 6 mi · Bean 9 mi · Arnold's 9 mi · Double (North Portion) 9 mi · Carey 13 mi · Round 14 mi · Eagle 15 mi · Bingham 16 mi · Louisa 16 mi · Laura 16 mi · String 17 mi · Cottonwood 17 mi
See how Shoper-Bush Reservoir stacks up: best crappie lakes in Minnesota · best bluegill lakes in Minnesota · best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Cottonwood County fishing maps (14 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.