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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
27-acre lake near Kalkaska County. The lake tops out around 31 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Smith Lake maps at 27 acres behind 1 miles of shoreline. At index 1.3 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 49% of this chart. Call it 0.4 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. Kalkaska County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Haynes Lake, is 1 mi to the south.
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 31 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 31 ft, rated prime for fall yellow perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Deep basin (31 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (31 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring largemouth bass on Smith Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 31 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 2 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Break off the point (15 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Structure-wise the chart holds 4 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 31 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Smith Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Smith Lake is about 31 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target yellow perch, largemouth bass on Smith Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 31 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
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 Smith Lake is regulated by the Michigan DNR. Check the official Michigan regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Haynes Lake 1 mi · Truax Lake 1 mi · Island Lake 3 mi · Lake Skegemog 3 mi · Guernsey Lake 4 mi · Dollar Lake 7 mi · Elk Lake 7 mi · Log Lake 9 mi · Indian Lake 9 mi · Rennie Lake 9 mi · Bass Lake 10 mi · South Selkirk Lake 10 mi
See how Smith Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan · best yellow perch lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Kalkaska County fishing maps (25 charts). Browse all Michigan fishing maps or 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.