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Rating depth structure for walleye.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
11,946-acre lake near Valleyview. 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. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Drawn out, this is 11,935 acres of water rimmed by 27.4 miles of bank, with a single island in the mix. Index 1.8 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 36% of this chart. Call it 8.1 mi long by 5.3 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Division No. 18. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Snipe Lake, 31 mi east of here.
Spring walleye on Sturgeon Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 9 to 31 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 31 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 23 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Creek inflow (3 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (23 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (31 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. Spring northern pike concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 3 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Weed flat (8 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (8 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Weed flat (8 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 9 to 31 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (31 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (31 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 9 to 31 ft. Through summer count on 9 to 31 ft; the winter hold is 9 to 31 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 31 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (31 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (23 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (31 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 9 to 31 ft. The depth story barely changes: 9 to 31 ft through summer, 8 to 31 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 31 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait gets it done.
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 | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (31 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (31 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (31 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 8 to 31 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (31 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
17 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 31 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Alberta waters are set by the Alberta fishing regulations — and special regulations can apply to Sturgeon Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alberta fishing regulations →
Sturgeon 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 walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, lake whitefish, burbot on Sturgeon Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 Sturgeon Lake is regulated by the Alberta fishing regulations. Check the official Alberta regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Snipe Lake 31 mi · Iosegun Lake 52 mi · Bear Lake 57 mi · Smoke Lake 57 mi · South Heart Reservoir 59 mi · Cardinal Lake 78 mi · Freeman Lake 86 mi · Lesser Slave Lake 87 mi · Pierre Greys Lakes 92 mi · McLeod Lake 95 mi · Chrystina Lake 97 mi · Kelly Lake 98 mi, BC
See how Sturgeon Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Alberta · best northern pike lakes in Alberta · best yellow perch lakes in Alberta · best lake whitefish lakes in Alberta
More water nearby: Division No. 18 fishing maps (6 charts). Browse all Alberta fishing maps. 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.