Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
2,173-acre lake near Lake Placid. The lake tops out around 140 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency 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.
Traced from the shoreline, Lake Placid runs 2,040 acres with 21.7 miles of edge — 3 islands included. A development index of 3.4 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. 29% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 4.1 mi long by 1.8 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Essex County. For a second option, Connery Pond lies 2 mi east.
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 45 ft. Secondary point is the standout, a point at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for fall smallmouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (14 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Secondary point (14 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | open water | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 8 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (14 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Creek inflow (8 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown bullhead in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 12 ft before dropping to 10 to 25 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in spring. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (140 ft) |
When the water first warms, rock bass slide up into 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 5 to 20 ft game here, winter a 12 to 30 ft one. Start at Secondary point. It's a point holding about 14 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run the evening. Keep a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Marina / dock area (7 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Secondary point (14 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Secondary point (14 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 12 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (140 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Spring yellow perch on Lake Placid hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (26 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (140 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (26 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 50 to 120 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 80 ft. Top water on the chart: Secondary point, a point in the 14 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (14 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (140 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (14 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (140 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Count 12 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 140 ft.
Access data: New York State DEC — Boat Launches (FishNY). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | Rainbow Trout | 8,840 | ~8" |
| June 2025* | Rainbow Trout | 1,590 | ~10.4" |
| May 2025* | Rainbow Trout | 8,920 | ~9.31" |
| May 2025* | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | ~11" |
| May 2024* | Rainbow Trout | 8,920 | ~10" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: NYSDEC fish-stocking lists, retrieved 2026-08-18.
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 Lake Placid specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Lake Placid is about 140 ft (43 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 smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown bullhead, rock bass, yellow perch, lake trout on Lake Placid.
Secondary point is the top-rated area: a point in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass 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.
Yes — per NYSDEC fish-stocking lists records, Lake Placid was most recently stocked 2026 with 8,840 rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Lake Placid 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.
Connery Pond 2 mi · Mirror Lake 2 mi · Franklin Falls Flow 7 mi · Oseetah Lake 8 mi · Lake Colby 9 mi · Pine Pond 9 mi · Kiwassa Lake 9 mi · Second Pond 10 mi · Union Falls Flow 11 mi · Ausable River (West Branch) 11 mi · First Pond 11 mi · Lower Saranac Lake 11 mi
See how Lake Placid stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in New York · best rainbow trout lakes in New York · best yellow perch lakes in New York · best lake trout lakes in New York
More water nearby: Essex County fishing maps (9 charts). Browse all New York 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.