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Fishing Echo Lake: what the data says
9-acre lake near Southard. The lake tops out around 5 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Largemouth Bass fishing at Echo Lake
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 1 to 5 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for fall largemouth bass. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Chain Pickerel fishing at Echo Lake
Start shallow in spring: chain pickerel sit in 1 to 5 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 1 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 5 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for chain pickerel in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 1 to 5 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Brown Bullhead fishing at Echo Lake
Start shallow in spring: brown bullhead sit in 1 to 5 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 1 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | dusk & night | |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday |
Channel Catfish fishing at Echo Lake
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 1 to 5 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for winter channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday |
Common Carp fishing at Echo Lake
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 1 to 5 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 1 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 1 to 5 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday |
Crappie fishing at Echo Lake
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 1 to 5 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 5 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 5 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 5 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Echo Lake also holds bluegill (1 to 5 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 5 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 4 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Echo Lake?
Echo Lake is about 5 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Echo Lake?
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, chain pickerel, brown bullhead on Echo Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Echo Lake?
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Echo Lake?
For largemouth 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.
Nearby waters
Weequahic Lake · Raritan River · Duhernal Lake · East Brunswick Community Park Lake · Duck Pond · Cozy Lake
See how Echo Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in New Jersey · best crappie lakes in New Jersey · best bluegill lakes in New Jersey · best channel catfish lakes in New Jersey
Browse all New Jersey fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.