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Rating depth structure for crappie.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
7-acre pond near Hennepin County. The lake tops out around 16 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Traced from the shoreline, Smith Pond runs 7 acres with 0.6 miles of edge. Index 1.7 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 88% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. The water lies in Hennepin County. For a second option, Penn lies 2 mi west.
In spring, crappie run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 16 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 16 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for winter crappie. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| 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 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 16 ft | dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: bluegill sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 16 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 16 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Come spring, look for pumpkinseed tight to the bank in 1 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 10 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 16 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 14 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. A micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Count 4 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 14 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Bluegill Sunfish (adults) | 68 | — |
| 2025* | Yellow Bullhead (adults) | 5 | — |
| 2025* | Yellow Perch (adults) | 1,001 | — |
| 2024* | Bluegill Sunfish (adults) | 200 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Smith Pond specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Smith Pond is about 16 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 crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed on Smith Pond.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For crappie, 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.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Smith Pond was most recently stocked 2025 with 68 bluegill sunfish (adults). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Smith Pond 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.
Penn 2 mi · Taft 3 mi · Diamond 3 mi · Centennial 3 mi · Nokomis 4 mi · Cornelia 4 mi · Snelling 4 mi · Hiawatha 5 mi · Blackhawk 5 mi · Harriet 5 mi · Lemay 5 mi · Augusta 5 mi
See how Smith Pond stacks up: best crappie lakes in Minnesota · best bluegill lakes in Minnesota · best pumpkinseed lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Hennepin County fishing maps (102 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps or 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.