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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
23-acre lake near City of Saint John. Government of New Brunswick lake depth survey. The lake tops out around 17 ft. The depth chart comes from Government of New Brunswick DNRED bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Dolan Lake runs 23 acres with 1 miles of edge. Index 1.5 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 94% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.4 mi with a 0.2-mi widest point. The water lies in Saint John County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Douglas Lake, 3 mi southeast of here.
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 17 ft, wintering in 5 to 17 ft. Winter smallmouth bass concentrate at Deep basin, a good-rated deep basin around 17 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (17 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season chain pickerel use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 15 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 17 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 17 ft that grades good for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Spring yellow perch on Dolan Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 17 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 17 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 17 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (17 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 17 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 17 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 17 ft range, good in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (17 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (17 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Count 4 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 17 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 Dolan Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Brunswick fishing regulations →
Dolan Lake is about 17 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Government of New Brunswick DNRED bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brook trout on Dolan 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.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 Dolan 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.
Douglas Lake 3 mi · Treadwell Lake 4 mi · Hunter Lake 4 mi · Loch Lomond 5 mi · Beaver Lake 6 mi · Fisher Lakes 6 mi · Lily Lake 7 mi · Taylor Lake 8 mi · Otter Lake 8 mi · Pickett Lake 11 mi · Round Lake 15 mi · Spruce Lake 15 mi
See how Dolan 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: Saint John County fishing maps (19 charts). Browse all New Brunswick fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Government of New Brunswick DNRED LakeDepth survey soundings and 2017 interpolated elevation surface (depth below lake surface; 29% measured, 70% source-interpolated). 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.