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Fishing West Fern: what the data says
81-acre lake near Cook County. The lake tops out around 60 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Lake Trout fishing at West Fern
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 18 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 60 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. Tie on a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 18 to 60 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 51 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 27 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 15 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 15 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is West Fern?
West Fern is about 60 ft 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.
What fish are in West Fern?
Anglers target lake trout on West Fern.
Where is the best fishing spot on West Fern?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 51 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish West Fern?
For lake trout, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Peter · Powell · Howard · Elm · Fern · Ecstasy
See how West Fern stacks up: best lake trout lakes in Minnesota
Browse all Minnesota fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.