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Rating depth structure for crappie.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
20-acre lake near Scott County. The lake tops out around 16 ft. The depth chart comes from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 2005 (a modern GPS/sonar survey). Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 20 acres wrapped in 0.9 miles of bank. Its 1.4 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. The basin spans about 0.3 mi end to end and 0.2 mi across at its widest. Scott County claims this one. If the bite dies, Unnamed Lake (Scott County) is 3 mi to the northwest.
When the water first warms, crappie slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 16 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 16 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 13 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for bluegill tight to the bank in 1 to 6 ft. They move out to 4 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 16 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 13 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig 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 | 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 chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (6 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring green sunfish on Sweetbrier hold shallow, usually 1 to 8 ft. They move out to 2 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 16 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 13 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a micro jig or a small grub.
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 | 1 to 8 ft | midday | open water | Micro jig, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Micro jig, Small grub |
| Fall | 4 to 16 ft | midday | Break off the point (6 ft) | Small jig, Micro crankbait |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 22 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tiny hair jig, Micro spoon |
The chart marks 3 structure features on Sweetbrier; the deepest is Deep basin at about 13 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Sweetbrier specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Sweetbrier is about 16 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 2005 (a modern GPS/sonar survey).
Anglers target crappie, bluegill, green sunfish on Sweetbrier.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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.
Fishing on Sweetbrier 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.
Unnamed Lake (Scott County) 3 mi · McMahon 4 mi · Marion 4 mi · St. Catherine 4 mi · Minn Reg Southern 5 mi · Cleary 5 mi · Orchard 6 mi · Fish 6 mi · Murphy 6 mi · Cynthia 6 mi · Lee 7 mi · Crystal 7 mi
See how Sweetbrier stacks up: best crappie lakes in Minnesota · best bluegill lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Scott County fishing maps (28 charts). Browse all Minnesota 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.