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Fishing First Eel Lake: what the data says
1,733-acre lake near Canterbury Parish. Government of New Brunswick lake depth survey. The lake tops out around 19 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at First Eel Lake
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 19 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 19 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 15 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Chain Pickerel fishing at First Eel Lake
Spring chain pickerel on First Eel Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 18 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Yellow Perch fishing at First Eel Lake
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 6 to 19 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 19 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 19 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Brook Trout fishing at First Eel Lake
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. They move out to 6 to 19 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 19 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 19 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 19 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
White Perch fishing at First Eel Lake
In spring, white perch run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 19 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 19 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for white perch in summer. Best bite is early morning. A small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft | dawn | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | dusk | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 19 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 15 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 2 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is First Eel Lake?
First Eel Lake is about 19 ft 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 First Eel Lake?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout, chain pickerel, white perch on First Eel Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on First Eel Lake?
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish First Eel Lake?
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.