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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
622-acre lake near T1 R6 WELS. The lake tops out around 15 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Salmon Stream Lake maps at 623 acres behind 6.1 miles of shoreline, with a single island in the mix. With a 1.8 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. Figure 2.1 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.8 mi at the beam. Penobscot County claims this one. If the bite dies, Molunkus Lake is 9 mi to the southeast.
Start shallow in spring: chain pickerel sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for chain pickerel in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 4 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Salmon Stream inflow (2 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Break off the point (4 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for brown bullhead tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 3 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 15 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Salmon Stream inflow (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 15 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 15 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Deep basin (15 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (15 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 15 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 Salmon Stream Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Salmon Stream Lake is about 15 ft (5 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 chain pickerel, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead, yellow perch on Salmon Stream Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For chain pickerel, 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 Salmon Stream 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.
Molunkus Lake 9 mi · Nollesemic Lake 15 mi · Wytopitlock Lake 17 mi · "Lower" Twin Pond 17 mi · "Upper" Twin Pond 17 mi · Katahdin Lake 20 mi · Cedar Lake 20 mi · Penobscot River 21 mi · Peaked Mountain Pond 21 mi · Little Hathorn Pond 21 mi · Pemadumcook Lake 22 mi · Sandy Stream Pond 23 mi
See how Salmon Stream Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Maine · best yellow perch lakes in Maine · best chain pickerel lakes in Maine · best brown bullhead 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.