Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at McDougall Lake
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing McDougall Lake: what the data says
73-acre lake near Paroisse de Saint Quentin. Government of New Brunswick lake depth survey. The lake tops out around 28 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 McDougall Lake
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. They move out to 8 to 28 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 28 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Secondary point: a point around 11 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Chain Pickerel fishing at McDougall Lake
In spring, chain pickerel run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 18 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring chain pickerel. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. 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 McDougall Lake
Spring yellow perch on McDougall Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 8 to 28 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 28 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 27 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 8 to 28 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Brook Trout fishing at McDougall Lake
Spring brook trout on McDougall Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. They move out to 8 to 28 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 20 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 27 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 28 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 20 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
White Perch fishing at McDougall Lake
Start shallow in spring: white perch sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 8 to 28 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 28 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 27 ft of water that rates prime for white perch in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 28 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft | dusk | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 27 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 25 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 11 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is McDougall Lake?
McDougall Lake is about 28 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 McDougall Lake?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout, chain pickerel, white perch on McDougall Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on McDougall Lake?
Secondary point is the top-rated area: a point in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish McDougall 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.