How-to3-D lake beds · Minnesota
How to fish the drop-offs on Lake Minnetonka
Six steps from the ramp to the first bite on Lake Minnetonka, using the water temperature, the structure and the forecast.
Turn it in 3-DFishing Lake Minnetonka this week comes down to a few decisions. Here they are in order. Late fall in the North is the last open-water stretch. Fish gather on deeper structure, the bite gets slower and the weather gets less forgiving.
Pick the window
Go Thursday, 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm: it rates good for the bite. Low light is when fish move up onto the edges to feed.
Find the wind-blown bank
Start at the wind-blown bank marked on the map, in 10 to 22 ft of water. Today's north wind pushes bait into this bank across open water.
Set your depth for 51°F water
The surface is 51°F (a few days ago). Work the middle of the range early, then follow the fish shallower as the sun warms the water.
Tie on the right bait
At this spot, try spoon or spinnerbait on the weed edge. Muskie: big baits along weed edges and breaks.
Work the edge, not the middle
Slow everything down: long pauses, light line, small baits. Most bites come as the bait sits still. Position the boat in deep water and cast up onto the shallow side, so your bait falls down the slope the way fish face.
Use the wind, carefully
Wednesday brings wind from the north-northwest with gusts near 15 mph: bait stacks up on the south-northwest side, and fish follow. A light chop is a good thing: it breaks up the light and makes fish bolder.
The shape of the lake bed
The deepest water is about 110 ft.
Fish live on the edges: where a flat meets deep water.
The depth map picks out 8 sharp drop-offs, places where the bottom falls away fast. Fish use these edges to move between shallow food and deep safety without travelling far.
On the depth map, lines are drawn every 10 ft. Where they bunch together the slope is steep; where they spread apart the bottom is a flat.
With about 14,500 acres and roughly 125 miles of shoreline at full pool, Lake Minnetonka is a lot of water to cover. Anglers come to Lake Minnetonka for largemouth bass, muskie and northern pike. Most of that structure is invisible from the boat, which is why a depth map pays off here.
The spot on the map
On Lake Minnetonka, start at the wind-blown bank marked on the map, fishing 10 to 22 ft. Today's north wind pushes bait into this bank across open water. Expect northern pike and walleye there; try spoon or spinnerbait on the weed edge. The best window there is 6:30 am to 8:45 am. Down at that depth the water is about 49°F, against 50°F on top.
What the next days bring
For the calmest weather, Friday is the pick of the next few days: sunny, wind around 5 mph and a high near 39°F. The wind builds to its strongest on Thursday, out of the north at 15 mph. Highs slide from about 54°F to 39°F over the stretch, so dress in layers for the early start.
The bite ratings peak on Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 6 of the next 7 days rate good or better. On Wednesday the strongest window runs 6:30 am to 8:45 am, and on Thursday 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm.
Questions
How deep is Lake Minnetonka?
Around 110 ft at its deepest. It covers about 14,500 acres with roughly 125 miles of shoreline at full pool.
When is the best time to fish Lake Minnetonka this week?
Thursday rates good for the bite, with the best window 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm. Dawn and dusk are the most reliable hours on any day.
Lake Minnetonka every morning
Water temperature, level, wind and bite times on your phone.
Read the guide
- How to read a lake depth map: points, humps and channelsA plain guide to reading a lake depth map: contour spacing, points and drop-offs, humps, old river channels, and LakeScope's 3-D lake bed to find them fast.
- Lake Minnetonka fishing guide: muskie, walleye and pikeFishing Lake Minnetonka near Minneapolis: a multi-bay lake holding muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill, with season tactics and basics for a busy metro lake.
Related reports
By the numbers State roundups · Minnesota
Minnesota lakes by the numbers: 45°F to 51°F water, levels and the bite
Our weekly look at 4 Minnesota lakes: which are warmest and coolest, which levels are moving, and where the bite looks best.
Deep dive Fishing · Minnesota
Lake Mille Lacs this week: walleye and muskie, depths and baits at 48°F
With the water at 48°F, walleye are the best bet on Lake Mille Lacs. Species by species: how deep, what to throw and when.
How-to Water temperature · Minnesota
Cold-water tactics for Lake Vermilion: a step-by-step plan
Six steps from the ramp to the first bite on Lake Vermilion, using the water temperature, the structure and the forecast.
How-to 3-D lake beds · Vermont
How to read and fish the lake bed of Lake Champlain
Six steps from the ramp to the first bite on Lake Champlain, using the water temperature, the structure and the forecast.