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40-acre lake near Paroisse de Rogersville. Government of New Brunswick lake depth survey. The lake tops out around 7 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Despres Lake draws 40 acres inside 1 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. End to end it runs roughly 0.4 mi, about 0.2 mi across. The water lies in Northumberland County. For a second option, Crocker Lake lies 19 mi northwest.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 6.9 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 6.9 ft, and they winter in 2 to 6.9 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for fall smallmouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6.9 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 6.9 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 6.9 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 6.9 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring chain pickerel on Despres Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 6.9 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 1 to 6.9 ft in summer, 2 to 6.9 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6.9 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 1 to 6.9 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 2 to 6.9 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 2 to 6.9 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 2 to 6.9 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 6.9 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 6.9 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6.9 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 2 to 6.9 ft | dawn | Deep basin (6 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 2 to 6.9 ft | midday | Deep basin (6 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 2 to 6.9 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (6 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brook trout in 1 to 6.9 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 6.9 ft through summer, 1 to 6.9 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6.9 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 6.9 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (6 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 1 to 6.9 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (7 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 1 to 6.9 ft | dawn | Deep basin (6 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
The chart marks 5 structure features on Despres Lake; the deepest is Main-lake point at about 7 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Brunswick waters are set by the New Brunswick fishing rules — and special regulations can apply to Despres Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Brunswick fishing regulations →
Despres Lake is about 6.9 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brook trout on Despres Lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For smallmouth bass, 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 Despres Lake is regulated by the New Brunswick fishing rules. Check the official New Brunswick regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Crocker Lake 19 mi · Chatham Reservoir 25 mi · Devils Back Lake 30 mi · Estey Lake 33 mi · Shaddick Lake 34 mi · Big Hole Lake 36 mi · Valentine Lake 39 mi · Island Lake 39 mi · Day Brook Lake 39 mi · Little McKendrick Lake 39 mi · Rocky Brook Lake 40 mi · McKendrick Lake 41 mi
See how Despres Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in New Brunswick · best yellow perch lakes in New Brunswick · best brook trout lakes in New Brunswick · best chain pickerel lakes in New Brunswick
More water nearby: Northumberland County fishing maps (67 charts). Browse all New Brunswick fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.