How deep is Rifle Lake?

Rifle Lake is more than 70 feet deep. The deepest contour in the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours survey is the 70 foot line, and the lake continues deeper inside it, with 8 depth bands mapped in total.

Where is the deepest part of Rifle Lake?

The deepest surveyed water on Rifle Lake sits toward the northeastern corner of the lake, inside the 70 ft contour. The interactive depth map above shows the full basin outline and the breaks leading into it.

How accurate is this Rifle Lake depth map?

The contours come from the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours survey. Depths change over time with water levels and sediment, so treat this map as a planning guide for fishing, and never use it for navigation.

Michigan lake depth maps

Rifle Lake depth map

Rifle Lake in Ogemaw County, Michigan reaches a depth of more than 70 feet at its deepest surveyed contour. The official Michigan survey maps 8 depth bands across 15 contour lines. This free map of Rifle Lake shows every surveyed contour as an interactive depth chart you can use to plan a session before you travel.

Rifle Lake depth chart: 8 depth bands to 70+ ft

Data: Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours (public record), retrieved August 2026 · depths change over time · not for navigation

Rifle Lake depth chart data
Depth contour	Share of mapped area inside it
5 ft	about 100%
10 ft	about 39%
20 ft	about 30%
30 ft	about 23%
40 ft	about 16%
50 ft	about 8%
60 ft	about 3%
70 ft	under 1%

Share of the surveyed surface area enclosed by each depth contour, computed from the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours data.

How to fish Rifle Lake: deep, two-story water

At 70 feet, this is a two-story fishery: warm-water species work the shallows and weed edges while the deep basin can hold cold-water fish below the summer thermocline. In summer, target the transition where the bottom breaks from the shallow shelf toward the basin; fish suspend along that edge at dawn and dusk. The 8 mapped depth bands make it straightforward to find those breaks before you launch.

Ice fishing on Rifle Lake

On deep water like Rifle Lake, the winter bite concentrates along the first major drop-off rather than the deepest basin. Use the contours above to find where the shallow shelf breaks toward deep water and set up on that edge; panfish and walleye slide up and down it through the day. Late ice often pushes fish shallower again. Always verify ice thickness locally before walking out, and remember deep lakes freeze later and less evenly than shallow ones.

Rifle Lake depth map FAQs

How deep is Rifle Lake?: Rifle Lake is more than 70 feet deep. The deepest contour in the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours survey is the 70 foot line, and the lake continues deeper inside it, with 8 depth bands mapped in total.
Where is the deepest part of Rifle Lake?: The deepest surveyed water on Rifle Lake sits toward the northeastern corner of the lake, inside the 70 ft contour. The interactive depth map above shows the full basin outline and the breaks leading into it.
How accurate is this Rifle Lake depth map?: The contours come from the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours survey. Depths change over time with water levels and sediment, so treat this map as a planning guide for fishing, and never use it for navigation.

Depth maps for lakes near Rifle Lake

Grousehaven Lake depth map · 54 ft max · 2 mi away
Devoe Lake depth map · 53 ft max · 2 mi away
Sage Lake depth map · 80 ft max · 5 mi away
Long Lake depth map · 62 ft max · 6 mi away
Loon Lake depth map · 128+ ft max · 8 mi away

Mapped fishing venues near Rifle Lake

Rifle Lake in the venue directory covers access and fishing details for this water.

Grousehaven Lake · 2 mi away
Devoe Lake · 2 mi away
Sage Lake · 5 mi away

Fishing in Michigan needs a state license: Michigan fishing license guide · all Michigan venues