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317-acre lake near North Dakota. North Dakota Game & Fish survey water. The lake tops out around 24 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
West Moran Lake maps at 317 acres behind 3.2 miles of shoreline. Nearly circular (index 1.3), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Roughly 54% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 1.5 mi, about 0.5 mi across. It sits in Richland County. If the bite dies, Wahl Lake is 1 mi to the west.
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 7 to 24 ft before dropping to 7 to 24 ft for winter. Fall walleye concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 9 ft. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (6 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 7 to 24 ft before dropping to 7 to 24 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring common carp on West Moran Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 3 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 24 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 2 ft, prime for 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 (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) |
The chart marks 7 structure features on West Moran Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 22 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for North Dakota waters are set by the North Dakota Game and Fish — and special regulations can apply to West Moran Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official North Dakota fishing regulations →
West Moran Lake is about 24 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target walleye, yellow perch, common carp on West Moran Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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.
Fishing on West Moran Lake is regulated by the North Dakota Game and Fish. Check the official North Dakota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Wahl Lake 1 mi · Four Corners Lake 2 mi · Gullys Slough 3 mi · Shriner Lake 3 mi · Lueck Lake 4 mi · Grass Lake 6 mi · Horseshoe Lake 6 mi · Lake Elsie 9 mi · Lake Tewaukon 12 mi · Ole Breum Lake 18 mi · Buffalo Lake 19 mi · Sprague Lake 20 mi
See how West Moran Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in North Dakota · best yellow perch lakes in North Dakota · best common carp lakes in North Dakota
More water nearby: Richland County fishing maps (9 charts). Browse all North Dakota 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.