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.
657-acre lake near Upper Shin Pond. The lake tops out around 23 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, Lower Shin Pond draws 653 acres inside 7.3 miles of shoreline — one island included. Index 2 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 63% of this chart. Call it 2.3 mi long by 1 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Penobscot County. The nearest mapped water is Upper Shin Pond, 2 mi to the northeast.
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 23 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (21 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: landlocked salmon in 1 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 7 to 23 ft, wintering in 6 to 23 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 21 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (21 ft) | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 4 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (5 ft) | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 6 to 23 ft | dawn | Deep basin (21 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 7 to 23 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 23 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for winter 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 | Secondary point (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Break off the point (9 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
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 7 to 23 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in winter. 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 (5 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Deep basin (21 ft) |
When the water first warms, pumpkinseed slide up into 1 to 8 ft. Summer is a 2 to 10 ft game here, winter a 6 to 18 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run 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 (5 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 21 ft.
Access data: Maine GeoLibrary — Boat Launches (Maine IF&W / DACF). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2 | Landlocked Salmon | 250 | ~7" |
| May 1 | Brook Trout | 500 | ~10" |
Source: Maine IFW stocking report, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Maine waters are set by the Maine IFW — and special regulations can apply to Lower Shin Pond specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Lower Shin Pond is about 23 ft (7 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, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed on Lower Shin Pond.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for landlocked salmon in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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.
Yes — per Maine IFW stocking report records, Lower Shin Pond was most recently stocked Jun 2 with 250 landlocked salmon. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Lower Shin Pond 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.
Upper Shin Pond 2 mi · Jerry Pond 5 mi · Peaked Mountain Pond 6 mi · Grass Pond 8 mi · Hay Lake 8 mi · Green Pond 9 mi · Gilman Pond 10 mi · Hay Pond 10 mi · Messer Pond 10 mi · Little Hathorn Pond 11 mi · Secret Pond 11 mi · Snowshoe Lake 12 mi
See how Lower Shin Pond stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best brook trout lakes in Maine · best landlocked salmon lakes in Maine · best pumpkinseed lakes in Maine
More water nearby: Penobscot County fishing maps (34 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.