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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
44-acre lake near Luce County. The lake tops out around 51 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Traced from the shoreline, Tank Lake runs 38 acres with 1.2 miles of edge. Nearly circular (index 1.4), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. 52% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 0.5 mi end to end and 0.2 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Luce County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Camp Eight Lake, 3 mi east of here.
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 28 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | open water | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 8 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 28 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (28 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season brown trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Summer is a 15 to 51 ft game here, winter a 5 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 28 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 15 to 51 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (28 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (28 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: chinook salmon in 5 to 40 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 51 ft, wintering in 15 to 51 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 51 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 15 to 51 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (51 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 15 to 51 ft | midday | Deep basin (51 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
In spring, coho salmon run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 51 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 51 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 51 ft, rated prime for summer coho salmon. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 15 to 51 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (51 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 15 to 51 ft | midday | Deep basin (51 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
When the water first warms, cisco (lake herring) slide up into 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 51 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 51 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 51 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (51 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 15 to 51 ft | dawn | Deep basin (51 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (28 ft) | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 15 to 51 ft | dawn | Deep basin (51 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Tank Lake also holds yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer), northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer), smallmouth bass (10 to 30 ft in summer), rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), burbot (15 to 51 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Tank Lake carries 4 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 51 ft down.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21 | Splake | 2,199 | ~20.8" |
Source: Michigan DNR fish-stocking database, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Michigan waters are set by the Michigan DNR — and special regulations can apply to Tank Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Michigan fishing regulations →
Tank Lake is about 51 ft (16 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 brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, northern pike, smallmouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, burbot on Tank 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.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 51 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For brook trout, 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 Michigan DNR fish-stocking database records, Tank Lake was most recently stocked May 21 with 2,199 splake. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Tank 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.
Camp Eight Lake 3 mi · Long Lake 4 mi · Pretty Lake 4 mi · Muskallonge Lake 7 mi · Perch Lake 7 mi · Belle Lake, North 9 mi · Belle Lake, Central 9 mi · Tahquamenon Lake #3 9 mi · Mitchell Lake 9 mi · Sitka Lake 9 mi · Bass Lake 10 mi · Goose Lake 10 mi
See how Tank Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best rainbow trout lakes in Michigan · best yellow perch lakes in Michigan
More water nearby: Luce County fishing maps (26 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.