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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
165-acre lake near Cook County. The lake tops out around 47 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Vista draws 166 acres inside 5.9 miles of shoreline. A development index of 3.3 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 79% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.4 mi with a 0.8-mi widest point. You'll find it in Cook County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Misquah, 1 mi south of here.
Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 40 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 21 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (12 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (21 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring yellow perch on Vista hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 6 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (21 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring puts northern pike in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring northern pike. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 14 to 47 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 14 to 47 ft covers summer, 12 to 47 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 40 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. Throw a heavy jig + cut bait until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | 14 to 47 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 14 to 47 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (40 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 14 to 47 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 12 to 47 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Vista; the deepest is Deep basin at about 40 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 Vista specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Vista is about 47 ft (14 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot on Vista.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Vista 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.
Misquah 1 mi · Jackal 1 mi · Horseshoe 1 mi · Lux 1 mi · Little Trout 2 mi · Morgan 2 mi · Carl 2 mi · Night Hawk 2 mi · Allen 2 mi · Caribou 2 mi · Swamp 2 mi · Weasel 3 mi
See how Vista stacks up: best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best northern pike lakes in Minnesota · best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota · best burbot lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Cook County fishing maps (351 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.