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10,444-acre lake near Grand Lake Stream. The lake tops out around 92 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.
Traced from the shoreline, Big Lake runs 10,493 acres with 64.8 miles of edge, with 29 islands in the mix. A development index of 4.5 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 33% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 7.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 5 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Washington County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Pocomoonshine Lake, 7 mi east of here.
In spring, landlocked salmon run shallow here, mostly 1 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 41 ft, rated prime for summer landlocked salmon. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (41 ft) | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (41 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 20 to 45 ft for winter. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (41 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts white perch in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 40 ft, wintering in 20 to 50 ft. Summer white perch concentrate at Shallow feeding flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 24 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (24 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 15 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (41 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | dusk | Break off the point (41 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
15 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 84 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Maine waters are set by the Maine IFW — and special regulations can apply to Big Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Big Lake is about 92 ft (28 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 landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, white perch on Big Lake.
Rock reef is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For landlocked salmon, 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.
Fishing on Big Lake is regulated by the Maine IFW. Check the official Maine regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Pocomoonshine Lake 7 mi · Crawford Lake 10 mi · West Grand Lake 10 mi · Wabassus Lake 10 mi · Second Chain Lake 12 mi · Grand Falls Flowage 12 mi, NB/ME · Woodland Flowage 13 mi, NB/ME · West Musquash Lake 13 mi · Fourth Machias Lake 16 mi · Meddybemps Lake 16 mi · Lower Sysladobsis Lake 17 mi · Fifth Machias Lake 17 mi
See how Big Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best landlocked salmon lakes in Maine · best white perch lakes in Maine
More water nearby: Washington County fishing maps (24 charts). Browse all Maine 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.