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2,942-acre lake near Ellsworth. The lake tops out around 124 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, Branch Lake runs 2,938 acres with 25.5 miles of edge, broken up by 6 islands. An index of 3.4 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 18% of this chart. End to end it runs roughly 5.7 mi, about 2.6 mi across. The water lies in Hancock County. The nearest mapped water is Lower Patten Pond, 4 mi to the south.
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 16 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 45 ft. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Structure-wise the chart holds 11 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 112 ft.
Access data: Maine GeoLibrary — Boat Launches (Maine IF&W / DACF). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8 | Landlocked Salmon | 800 | ~6" |
Source: Maine IFW stocking report, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Maine waters are set by the Maine IFW — and special regulations can apply to Branch Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Branch Lake is about 124 ft (38 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 rainbow trout, smallmouth bass on Branch Lake.
Rock reef is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For rainbow 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.
Yes — per Maine IFW stocking report records, Branch Lake was most recently stocked May 8 with 800 landlocked salmon. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Branch 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.
Lower Patten Pond 4 mi · Green Lake 4 mi · Phillips Lake 7 mi · Beech Hill Pond 8 mi · Union River 9 mi · Hatcase Pond 10 mi · Burnt Pond 10 mi · Noyes Pond 11 mi · Morgan Bay 11 mi · Brewer Lake 12 mi · Webb Pond 14 mi · Blue Hill Harbor 14 mi
See how Branch Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best rainbow trout lakes in Maine
More water nearby: Hancock County fishing maps (32 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.