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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
22-acre lake near Lorne Parish. Government of New Brunswick lake depth survey. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from Government of New Brunswick DNRED bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 22 acres wrapped in 1 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.5) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 88% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 0.3 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Victoria County. Neary Pond sits 1 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring smallmouth bass on Riley Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 20 ft that grades good for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
In spring, chain pickerel run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 15 ft before dropping to 5 to 18 ft for winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Spring puts yellow perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 20 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for fall yellow perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
When the water first warms, brook trout slide up into 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 20 ft that scores good in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
When the water first warms, white perch slide up into 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 20 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | dusk | Deep basin (20 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Structure-wise the chart holds 4 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 20 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Brunswick waters are set by the New Brunswick fishing rules — and special regulations can apply to Riley Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Brunswick fishing regulations →
Riley Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Government of New Brunswick DNRED bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brook trout, white perch on Riley Lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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.
Fishing on Riley Lake is regulated by the New Brunswick fishing rules. Check the official New Brunswick regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Neary Pond 1 mi · Little Everett Lake 3 mi · Stewart Brook Lake 7 mi · Serpentine Lake 9 mi · Trousers Lake 13 mi · Long Lake 13 mi · Sisson Branch Reservoir 15 mi · Gulquac Lake 16 mi · Island Lake 17 mi · Logan Lake 17 mi · Bathurst Lake 19 mi · Nictau Lake 19 mi
See how Riley Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in New Brunswick · best yellow perch lakes in New Brunswick · best brook trout lakes in New Brunswick · best chain pickerel lakes in New Brunswick
More water nearby: Victoria County fishing maps (12 charts). Browse all New Brunswick fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Government of New Brunswick DNRED LakeDepth survey soundings and 2017 interpolated elevation surface (depth below lake surface; 21% measured, 76% source-interpolated). 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.