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892-acre lake near Waterville. The lake tops out around 10 ft. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1950, a decades-old survey (the DNR's original lake-survey map). The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The drawn water covers 800 acres wrapped in 7.4 miles of bank, broken up by 2 islands. A middling shoreline index (1.9) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. Figure 2.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.9 mi at the beam. It sits in Le Sueur County. Lower Sakatah sits 2 mi east — the closest neighbouring chart.
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 10 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. 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 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (2 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring crappie on Upper Sakatah Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 3 to 10 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 10 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 10 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 10 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 10 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Break off the point (2 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring northern pike on Upper Sakatah Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 3 to 10 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 10 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage.
| 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 | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for common carp tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 10 ft; the winter hold is 3 to 10 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: white bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for white bass in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Upper Sakatah Lake also holds yellow perch (3 to 10 ft in summer), channel catfish (3 to 10 ft in summer), bluegill (3 to 10 ft in summer), smallmouth bass (3 to 10 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 10 ft.
Access data: MN DNR Water Access Sites (struc_water_access_sites), Minnesota Geospatial Commons. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Walleye (fry) | 220,250 | — |
| 2024* | Walleye (fry) | 220,250 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Upper Sakatah Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Upper Sakatah Lake is about 10 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1950, a decades-old survey (the DNR's original lake-survey map).
Anglers target walleye, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, common carp, white bass, yellow perch, channel catfish, bluegill, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed on Upper Sakatah Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. 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.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Upper Sakatah Lake was most recently stocked 2025 with 220,250 walleye (fry). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Upper Sakatah Lake 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.
Lower Sakatah 2 mi · Horseshoe 3 mi · Sprague 3 mi · Lake Tetonka 3 mi · Sunfish 4 mi · Reeds 5 mi · Toner's 5 mi · Lily 5 mi · Fish 6 mi · Caron 6 mi · Rays 7 mi · Sabre 7 mi
See how Upper Sakatah Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best smallmouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best white bass lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Le Sueur County fishing maps (24 charts). Browse all Minnesota 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.