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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
554-acre lake near Caroga. The lake tops out around 140 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Canada Lake maps at 564 acres behind 7.1 miles of shoreline. With a 2.1 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 33% of this chart. End to end it runs roughly 2.5 mi, about 1 mi across. It sits in Fulton County. West Caroga Lake sits 2 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
When the water first warms, brown bullhead slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 3 to 12 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (5 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (140 ft) |
Come spring, look for lake trout tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 50 to 120 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 80 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 140 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (71 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (140 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (140 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: chain pickerel in 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 15 ft before dropping to 5 to 18 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for chain pickerel in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 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 Creek inflow: an inflow / creek mouth around 2 ft that scores good in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (2 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (140 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (71 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (140 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake whitefish in 15 to 45 ft. As the season builds they drop to 40 to 90 ft, wintering in 25 to 70 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow feeding flat, a feeding flat in the 20 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (140 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 6 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (140 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Canada Lake also holds pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 9 structure features on Canada Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 140 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | Rainbow Trout | 1,860 | ~8" |
| June 2025* | Rainbow Trout | 1,870 | ~9.1" |
| April 2025* | Lake Trout | 2,700 | ~6.7" |
| April 2024* | Lake Trout | 2,260 | ~7" |
| April 2024* | Rainbow Trout | 1,870 | ~8.2" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: NYSDEC fish-stocking lists, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New York waters are set by the New York DEC — and special regulations can apply to Canada Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Canada Lake is about 140 ft (43 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target brown bullhead, lake trout, chain pickerel, smallmouth bass, lake whitefish, yellow perch, pumpkinseed on Canada Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for chain pickerel in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For brown bullhead, the summer bite is best in after dark 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 NYSDEC fish-stocking lists records, Canada Lake was most recently stocked 2026 with 1,860 rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Canada Lake is regulated by the New York DEC. Check the official New York regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
West Caroga Lake 2 mi · East Caroga Lake 3 mi · Jerseyfield Lake 16 mi · Piseco Lake 17 mi · Great Sacandaga Lake 18 mi · Lake Pleasant 23 mi · Sacandaga Lake 23 mi · Summit Lake 27 mi · South Lake 30 mi · Lewey Lake 33 mi · Otsego Lake 34 mi · Canadarago Lake 35 mi
See how Canada Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in New York · best yellow perch lakes in New York · best lake trout lakes in New York · best chain pickerel lakes in New York
Browse all New York fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.