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Fishing Big Lake: what the data says
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.
Landlocked Salmon fishing at Big Lake
Start shallow in spring: landlocked salmon sit in 1 to 15 ft that time of year. They move out to 25 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 41 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core and you're in the game.
| 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 Big Lake
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 Big Lake
Spring white perch on Big Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 40 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow feeding flat: a feeding flat around 24 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 |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 84 ft
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 84 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 41 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 24 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 22 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 5 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 5 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 4 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 4 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 3 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 2 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Big Lake?
Big Lake is about 92 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 Big Lake?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, landlocked salmon, white perch on Big Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot 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. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Big Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
East Grand Lake · Penobscot River · Green Lake · Phillips Lake · Branch Lake · Pushaw Lake
See how Big Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best landlocked salmon lakes in Maine · best white perch 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.