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338-acre lake near North Dakota. North Dakota Game & Fish survey water. The lake tops out around 18 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
South Stink Lake maps at 338 acres behind 3.1 miles of shoreline. Nearly circular (index 1.2), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. 62% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.3 mi with a 0.6-mi widest point. Stutsman County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Crystal Springs, is 1 mi to the northwest.
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 18 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 18 ft. The spot to know is Back-bay flat, a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 18 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for North Dakota waters are set by the North Dakota Game and Fish — and special regulations can apply to South Stink Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official North Dakota fishing regulations →
South Stink Lake is about 18 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target yellow perch on South Stink Lake.
Back-bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 South Stink Lake is regulated by the North Dakota Game and Fish. Check the official North Dakota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Crystal Springs 1 mi · Stink Lake 1 mi · Foot Lake 2 mi · Reule Lake 4 mi · Jay Nelson Lake 6 mi · Bader Lake 8 mi · Trautman Slough 13 mi · Mud and Pearl Lakes 13 mi · McPhail WMA 14 mi · Cleveland Slough 14 mi · Lake Isabel 15 mi · Sibley Lake 15 mi
See how South Stink Lake stacks up: best yellow perch lakes in North Dakota
More water nearby: Stutsman County fishing maps (17 charts). Browse all North Dakota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.