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Rating depth structure for brook trout.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
1,192-acre lake near Elliottsville Township. The lake tops out around 76 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
On the chart, Lake Onawa draws 1,192 acres inside 14.6 miles of shoreline — 9 islands included. With a shoreline index of 3, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 33% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 3.3 mi with a 1.6-mi widest point. The water lies in Piscataquis County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Big Benson Pond, 3 mi southeast of here.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brook trout in 2 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 3 to 20 ft for winter. The spot to know is Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (1 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (14 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Creek inflow (1 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Creek inflow (1 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Start shallow in spring: landlocked salmon sit in 1 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 25 to 60 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 1 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (1 ft) | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (74 ft) | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (1 ft) | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (14 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 25 to 70 ft. As the season builds they drop to 23 to 76 ft, wintering in 15 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 74 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for after dark and midday. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (74 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 23 to 76 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (74 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 23 to 76 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (74 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (14 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 74 ft.
Access data: Maine GeoLibrary — Boat Launches (Maine IF&W / DACF). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Maine waters are set by the Maine IFW — and special regulations can apply to Lake Onawa specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Lake Onawa is about 76 ft (23 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 brook trout, landlocked salmon, burbot on Lake Onawa.
Creek inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for landlocked salmon in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For brook trout, 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 Lake Onawa is regulated by the Maine IFW. Check the official Maine regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Big Benson Pond 3 mi · Bear Pond 4 mi · Little Benson Pond 4 mi · Secret Pond 5 mi · Juniper Knee Pond 5 mi · Brown Pond 6 mi · Trout Pond 6 mi · West Chairback Pond 7 mi · Hedgehog Pond 7 mi · Second Buttermilk Pond 7 mi · Salmon Pond 7 mi · Burden Pond 7 mi
See how Lake Onawa stacks up: best brook trout lakes in Maine · best landlocked salmon lakes in Maine · best burbot lakes in Maine
More water nearby: Piscataquis County fishing maps (191 charts). Browse all Maine fishing maps or 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.