How deep is Smoky Lake?

Smoky Lake is more than 60 feet deep. The deepest contour in the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours survey is the 60 foot line, and the lake continues deeper inside it, with 12 depth bands mapped in total.

Where is the deepest part of Smoky Lake?

The deepest surveyed water on Smoky Lake sits toward the northeastern corner of the lake, inside the 60 ft contour. The interactive depth map above shows the full basin outline and the breaks leading into it.

How accurate is this Smoky 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

Smoky Lake depth map

Smoky Lake in Iron County, Michigan reaches a depth of more than 60 feet at its deepest surveyed contour. The official Michigan survey maps 12 depth bands across 29 contour lines. This free map of Smoky Lake shows every surveyed contour as an interactive depth chart you can use to plan a session before you travel.

Smoky Lake depth chart: 12 depth bands to 60+ ft

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

Smoky Lake depth chart data
Depth contour	Share of mapped area inside it
5 ft	about 100%
10 ft	about 43%
15 ft	about 38%
20 ft	about 31%
25 ft	about 26%
30 ft	about 19%
35 ft	about 14%
40 ft	about 9%
45 ft	about 4%
60 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 Smoky Lake: deep, two-story water

At 60 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 12 mapped depth bands make it straightforward to find those breaks before you launch.

Ice fishing on Smoky Lake

On deep water like Smoky 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.

Smoky Lake depth map FAQs

How deep is Smoky Lake?: Smoky Lake is more than 60 feet deep. The deepest contour in the Michigan DNR Inland Lake Contours survey is the 60 foot line, and the lake continues deeper inside it, with 12 depth bands mapped in total.
Where is the deepest part of Smoky Lake?: The deepest surveyed water on Smoky Lake sits toward the northeastern corner of the lake, inside the 60 ft contour. The interactive depth map above shows the full basin outline and the breaks leading into it.
How accurate is this Smoky 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 Smoky Lake

Golden Lake depth map · 100 ft max · 6 mi away
Lac Vieux Desert depth map · 38+ ft max · 8 mi away
Wilson Lake depth map · 60 ft max · 13 mi away
Schneider Lake depth map · 60 ft max · 14 mi away
Iron Lake depth map · 45+ ft max · 14 mi away

Mapped fishing venues near Smoky Lake

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

Golden Lake · 6 mi away
Lac Vieux Desert · 8 mi away
Wilson Lake · 13 mi away

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