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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
1,254-acre lake near Danforth. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The outline encloses 1,251 acres, worked by 23 miles of shoreline — 18 islands included. With a shoreline index of 4.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Call it 4.8 mi long by 2.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. Washington County claims this one. If the bite dies, Lower Hot Brook Lake is 4 mi to the west.
Spring puts chain pickerel in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 3 to 15 ft, wintering in 5 to 18 ft. Spring chain pickerel concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 1 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Early season smallmouth bass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 6 ft that grades prime for winter. 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (6 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Break off the point (6 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for white perch tight to the bank in 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 18 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Baldwin Brook inflow (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Early season brown bullhead use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 3 to 12 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 18 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) |
In spring, pumpkinseed run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 2 to 10 ft before dropping to 6 to 18 ft for winter. Spring pumpkinseed concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 1 ft. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 20 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for fall yellow perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Crooked Brook Flowage carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 18 ft down.
Access data: Maine GeoLibrary — Boat Launches (Maine IF&W / DACF). 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 Crooked Brook Flowage specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Crooked Brook Flowage is about 20 ft (6 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 chain pickerel, smallmouth bass, white perch, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed, yellow perch on Crooked Brook Flowage.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For chain pickerel, 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 Crooked Brook Flowage 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 Hot Brook Lake 4 mi · East Grand Lake 7 mi, ME/NB · Grand Lake 8 mi, NB/ME · Brackett Lake 8 mi · Baskahegan Lake 8 mi · Liddle Lake 9 mi, NB · Spednic Lake 14 mi, NB/ME · North Lake 14 mi, NB · Lambert Lake 15 mi · Second Eel Lake 16 mi, NB · La Coote Lake 18 mi, NB · First Eel Lake 18 mi, NB
See how Crooked Brook Flowage stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best yellow perch lakes in Maine · best chain pickerel 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: 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.