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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
986-acre lake near T1 R11 WELS. The lake tops out around 110 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.
Traced from the shoreline, Nahmakanta Lake runs 985 acres with 8.8 miles of edge. Index 2 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 5% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 3.5 mi with a 0.8-mi widest point. You'll find it in Piscataquis County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Prentiss Pond, 2 mi southwest of here.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake trout in 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 33 to 110 ft before dropping to 20 to 80 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 108 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (22 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 33 to 110 ft | dawn | Deep basin (108 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (22 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (33 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Start shallow in spring: landlocked salmon sit in 1 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Rainbow Stream inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for landlocked salmon in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. 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 | Rainbow Stream inflow (13 ft) | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (33 ft) | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Rainbow Stream inflow (13 ft) | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (33 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: white perch in 4 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 40 ft, wintering in 20 to 50 ft. Top water on the chart: Rainbow Stream inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 13 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Rainbow Stream inflow (13 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | dawn | Back-bay flat (14 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 15 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (33 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | dusk | Break off the point (33 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brook trout in 2 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 3 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Rainbow Stream inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 13 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 | Rainbow Stream inflow (13 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Rainbow Stream inflow (13 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Rainbow Stream inflow (13 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Rainbow Stream inflow (13 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 25 to 70 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 33 to 110 ft before dropping to 15 to 60 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 108 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in summer. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. 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 | Break off the point (33 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 33 to 110 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (108 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (33 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (33 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 20 to 45 ft for winter. Fall smallmouth bass concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 22 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Rainbow Stream inflow (13 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (22 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (22 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (33 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Nahmakanta Lake also holds yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Nahmakanta Lake carries 10 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 108 ft down.
Access data: Maine GeoLibrary — Boat Launches (Maine IF&W / DACF). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11 | Lake Trout | 600 | ~7" |
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 Nahmakanta Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Nahmakanta Lake is about 110 ft (34 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 lake trout, landlocked salmon, white perch, brook trout, burbot, smallmouth bass, yellow perch on Nahmakanta Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 108 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For lake trout, the summer bite is best in early morning. 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, Nahmakanta Lake was most recently stocked May 11 with 600 lake trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Nahmakanta Lake 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.
Prentiss Pond 2 mi · Pollywog Pond 3 mi · Fourth Debsconeag Lake 3 mi · Bear Pond 4 mi · Doughnut Pond 4 mi · Big Beaver Pond 4 mi · Female Pond 4 mi · Little Minister Pond 5 mi · Rainbow Lake 5 mi · Tumbledown Dick Pond 5 mi · Big Minister Pond 5 mi · Buck Pond 5 mi
See how Nahmakanta Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best yellow perch lakes in Maine · best lake trout lakes in Maine · best brook trout 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.