Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Holmes Lake
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Holmes Lake: what the data says
303-acre lake near Southesk 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Holmes Lake
Spring smallmouth bass on Holmes Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 6 to 19 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 19 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 Holmes Lake
Spring chain pickerel on Holmes Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 18 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait covers the summer program.
| 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 Holmes Lake
Spring yellow perch on Holmes Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 19 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 19 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. 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 Holmes Lake
Spring brook trout on Holmes Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 19 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 19 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 19 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm covers the summer program.
| 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 Holmes Lake
Start shallow in spring: white perch sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 19 ft, and winter fish settle into 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. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon and you're in the game.
| 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 5 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 2 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Holmes Lake?
Holmes 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 Holmes Lake?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout, chain pickerel, white perch on Holmes Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Holmes 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 Holmes 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.