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Fishing Alford Lake: what the data says
585-acre lake near Hope. The lake tops out around 77 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.
Brook Trout fishing at Alford Lake
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Secondary point, a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Brown Trout fishing at Alford Lake
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 25 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 37 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Landlocked Salmon fishing at Alford Lake
In spring, landlocked salmon run shallow here, mostly 1 to 15 ft. They move out to 25 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 37 ft of water that rates prime for landlocked salmon in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Alford Lake
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 45 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 19 ft, rated prime for fall smallmouth bass. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
White Perch fishing at Alford Lake
In spring, white perch run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 15 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow feeding flat: a feeding flat around 16 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. Summer baits: a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | dawn | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 15 to 45 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | dusk | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Brown Bullhead fishing at Alford Lake
Start shallow in spring: brown bullhead sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. They move out to 3 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 25 ft. Back-bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring brown bullhead. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday |
Alford Lake also holds largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 73 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 37 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 19 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 16 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 14 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 12 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Alford Lake?
Alford Lake is about 77 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Alford Lake?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown trout, brook trout, landlocked salmon, white perch, brown bullhead on Alford Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Alford Lake?
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Alford Lake?
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Sennebec Pond · Crawford Pond · Seven Tree Pond · Megunticook Lake · South Pond · Quantabacook Lake
See how Alford Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Maine · best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best brown trout lakes in Maine · best brook trout lakes in Maine
Browse all Maine fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.