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Rating depth structure for brown bullhead.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
135-acre lake in Washington County, Vermont. The lake tops out around 98 ft. The depth chart comes from Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The outline encloses 131 acres, worked by 2.3 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.4 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 11% of this chart. The basin spans about 0.8 mi end to end and 0.5 mi across at its widest. Washington County claims this one. Curtis Pond sits 3 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring brown bullhead on Forest Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 3 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 25 ft. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | open water |
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 35 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and early morning. Throw a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | open water | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 98 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Vermont waters are set by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Forest Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Vermont fishing regulations →
Forest Lake is about 98 ft (30 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target brown bullhead, brown trout on Forest Lake.
For brown bullhead, the summer bite is best in after dark 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 Forest Lake is regulated by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife. Check the official Vermont regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Curtis Pond 3 mi · Greenwood Lake 4 mi · East Long Pond 5 mi · Nichols Pond 6 mi · Turtlehead Pond 8 mi · Wrightsville Reservoir 9 mi · Lake Elmore 10 mi · Kettle Pond 10 mi · Peacham Pond 10 mi · Wolcott Pond 11 mi · Joe's Pond 11 mi · Fosters Pond 13 mi
See how Forest Lake stacks up: best brown trout lakes in Vermont · best brown bullhead lakes in Vermont
More water nearby: Washington County fishing maps (9 charts). Browse all Vermont fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation BioBase Lake Bathymetry (pool elevation at time of collection; 0% measured, 100% 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.