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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
12-acre lake near Paroisse d'Addington. Government of New Brunswick lake depth survey. The lake tops out around 5 ft. The depth chart comes from Government of New Brunswick DNRED bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
On the chart, Head Lake draws 10 acres inside 0.7 miles of shoreline. Index 1.6 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. You'll find it in Restigouche County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Jacquet River Lakes, 1 mi east of here.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 1 to 5 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 5 ft, and they winter in 2 to 5 ft. Winter smallmouth bass concentrate at Deep basin, a good-rated deep basin around 5 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig 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 | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (5 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring chain pickerel on Head Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 5 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 1 to 5 ft in summer, 1 to 5 ft once it turns cold. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 5 ft that grades good for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait.
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 | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Deep basin (5 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 1 to 5 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 5 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 5 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 5 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm 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 | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (5 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (5 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (5 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brook trout in 1 to 5 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 5 ft through summer, 1 to 5 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 5 ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm 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 | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (5 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (5 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
4 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 5 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Head Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Brunswick fishing regulations →
Head Lake is about 5 ft (2 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 Head 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 5 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Head 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.
Jacquet River Lakes 1 mi · Tongue Lake 1 mi · Meadow Lakes 2 mi · Island Lake 3 mi · Murray Lake 3 mi · Upper Tetagouche Lake 9 mi · Middle Tetagouche Lake 11 mi · McRae Lake 12 mi · Lucky Lake 12 mi · Upsalquitch Lake 13 mi · Third Portage Lake 13 mi · Popelogan Lake 13 mi
See how Head 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: Restigouche County fishing maps (25 charts). Browse all New Brunswick 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.