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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
41.2-acre lake near New Lisbon. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Drawn out, this is 38 acres of water rimmed by 1.2 miles of bank. At index 1.4 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. About 77% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.5 mi with a 0.2-mi widest point. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Wilber Lake, 6 mi southeast of here.
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 20 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring largemouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait most summer days.
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 | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (16 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 20 ft, wintering in 6 to 20 ft. Winter smallmouth bass concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 16 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 | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (16 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
When the water first warms, pumpkinseed slide up into 1 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 2 to 10 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 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 the evening and early morning. Keep a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. The depth story barely changes: 5 to 20 ft through summer, 4 to 20 ft in winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
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 | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season brown trout use the shallows, holding in 2 to 20 ft. Even in summer they hold at 6 to 20 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 20 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 16 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) 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 20 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 3 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
5 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 20 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: New York State DEC — Boat Launches (FishNY). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | Brown Trout | 120 | ~12" |
| 2026* | Rainbow Trout | 620 | ~8" |
| June 2025* | Rainbow Trout | 5,000 | ~4.2" |
| April 2025* | Rainbow Trout | 630 | ~8.5" |
| April 2025* | Brown Trout | 100 | ~14" |
| April 2024* | Rainbow Trout | 630 | ~8.9" |
| April 2024* | Brown Trout | 100 | ~13.7" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: NYSDEC fish-stocking lists, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New York waters are set by the New York DEC — and special regulations can apply to Gilbert Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Gilbert Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, brown trout on Gilbert Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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.
Yes — per NYSDEC fish-stocking lists records, Gilbert Lake was most recently stocked 2026 with 120 brown trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Gilbert Lake is regulated by the New York DEC. Check the official New York regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Wilber Lake 6 mi · Arnold Lake 7 mi · Goodyear Lake 9 mi · Chenango Lake 16 mi · Otsego Lake 17 mi · Canadarago Lake 17 mi · Summit Lake 24 mi · Lebanon Reservoir 29 mi · Arctic Lake 32 mi · Balsam Lake 32 mi · Cannonsville Reservoir 33 mi · Eaton Brook Reservoir 35 mi
See how Gilbert Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in New York · best smallmouth bass lakes in New York · best rainbow trout lakes in New York · best brown trout lakes in New York
Browse all New York fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.