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Rating depth structure for lake trout.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
2,925-acre lake near T10 R15 WELS. The lake tops out around 105 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.
Ross Lake maps at 2,919 acres behind 12.9 miles of shoreline. With a 1.7 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. 27% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 4.9 mi end to end and 2.1 mi across at its widest. It sits in Piscataquis County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Narrow Pond, is 9 mi to the south.
Early season brook trout use the shallows, holding in 2 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 20 ft. Put Fool Brook inflow first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 2 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Fool Brook inflow (2 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Fool Brook inflow (2 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Ross Inlet inflow (5 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
When the water first warms, burbot slide up into 25 to 70 ft. By summer they slide out to 32 to 105 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 101 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and midday. Keep a heavy jig + cut bait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (42 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 32 to 105 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (101 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (42 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (42 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
When the water first warms, lake trout slide up into 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 32 to 105 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 101 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 32 to 105 ft | dawn | Deep basin (101 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (3 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (42 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 40 to 90 ft, and winter fish settle into 25 to 70 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 42 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (42 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Break off the point (42 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (3 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (42 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Structure-wise the chart holds 13 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 101 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Maine waters are set by the Maine IFW — and special regulations can apply to Ross Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Ross Lake is about 105 ft (32 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, burbot, lake trout, lake whitefish on Ross Lake.
Fool Brook inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in spring. 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.
Fishing on Ross 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.
Narrow Pond 9 mi · Little Wadleigh Pond 9 mi · Desolation Pond 10 mi · Little Churchill Pond 10 mi · Wadleigh Pond 11 mi · Johnson Pond 12 mi · Umsaskis Lake 13 mi · Allagash Lake 13 mi · Saint Francis Lake 14 mi · Harvey Pond 15 mi · Upper Ellis Pond 16 mi · Poland Pond 16 mi
See how Ross Lake stacks up: best lake trout lakes in Maine · best brook trout lakes in Maine · best lake whitefish lakes in Maine · best burbot 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.