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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
124-acre lake near Leelanau County. The lake tops out around 13 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
There are 2.2 miles of drawn shoreline to work. A middling shoreline index (1.7) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Tip to tip the water measures near 1 mi with a 0.2-mi widest point. Leelanau County claims this one. Glen Lake sits 6 mi northeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 3 to 13 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 4 to 13 ft covers summer, 4 to 13 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 13 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (5 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 13 ft, wintering in 4 to 13 ft. Fall yellow perch concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 12 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| 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 | 4 to 13 ft | dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Deep basin (12 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring smallmouth bass on South Bar Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 13 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 13 ft. The chart's best answer is Main-lake point — point, 5 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Break off the point (5 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts rock bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 13 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 13 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for summer rock bass. Plan around the evening in the warm months. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (5 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Break off the point (5 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Deep basin (12 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
When the water first warms, white perch slide up into 3 to 13 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 13 ft, winter 4 to 13 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 12 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 13 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn | Deep basin (12 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Deep basin (12 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | dusk | Deep basin (12 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
When the water first warms, freshwater drum slide up into 3 to 13 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 13 ft, winter 4 to 13 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 12 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run the evening. Keep a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 13 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft | dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Deep basin (12 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Deep basin (12 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
South Bar Lake also holds common carp (3 to 13 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 6 structure features on South Bar Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 12 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to South Bar Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
South Bar Lake is about 13 ft (4 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 walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rock bass, white perch, freshwater drum, common carp on South Bar Lake. This isn't a survey of the lake — none is on record for it — but an informed estimate from the species listed for the nearest surveyed lakes in the region, filtered to this lake's depth and habitat.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and 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 South Bar 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.
Glen Lake 6 mi · Garey Lake 7 mi · Lime Lake 8 mi · Little Platte Lake 8 mi · Platte Lake 9 mi · Stevens Lake 10 mi · School Lake 11 mi · Herendeene Lake 11 mi · Upper Woodcock Lake 12 mi · Shell Lake 12 mi · Lime Lake 12 mi · Crystal Lake 12 mi
See how South Bar Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best walleye lakes in Michigan · best yellow perch lakes in Michigan · best freshwater drum lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Leelanau County fishing maps (9 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.