Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
2,594-acre lake near Dannemora. The lake tops out around 70 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, Upper Chateaugay Lake runs 2,495 acres with 12.3 miles of edge — 2 islands included. Index 1.8 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. About 34% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 3.8 mi end to end and 1.7 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Clinton County. The nearest mapped water is Lower Chateaugay Lake, 6 mi to the northwest.
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. Summer smallmouth bass concentrate at Offshore hump, a prime-rated offshore hump around 14 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 | Secondary point (7 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (14 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (19 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Old creek channel (28 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake trout in 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 21 to 70 ft before dropping to 18 to 70 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 70 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 (19 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (70 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (14 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 18 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (70 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Ouleout Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Ouleout Creek inflow (7 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Ouleout Creek inflow (7 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (19 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Old creek channel (28 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
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 Ouleout Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in about 7 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 | Ouleout Creek inflow (7 ft) | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (55 ft) | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Ouleout Creek inflow (7 ft) | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Main-lake point (19 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
Start shallow in spring: brown bullhead sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 12 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 25 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 6 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (70 ft) |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 6 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (14 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Offshore hump (14 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Offshore hump (14 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Upper Chateaugay Lake also holds pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 12 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 70 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2025* | Brook Trout | 30,860 | ~6.2" |
| June 2025* | Brown Trout | 2,020 | ~8.5" |
| April 2025* | Lake Trout | 5,180 | ~7" |
| April 2024* | Lake Trout | 4,350 | ~7" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: NYSDEC fish-stocking lists, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New York waters are set by the New York DEC — and special regulations can apply to Upper Chateaugay Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Upper Chateaugay Lake is about 70 ft (21 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 smallmouth bass, lake trout, rainbow trout, landlocked salmon, brown bullhead, yellow perch, pumpkinseed on Upper Chateaugay Lake.
Offshore hump is the top-rated area: an offshore hump in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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.
Yes — per NYSDEC fish-stocking lists records, Upper Chateaugay Lake was most recently stocked October 2025 with 30,860 brook trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Upper Chateaugay Lake is regulated by the New York DEC. Check the official New York regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lower Chateaugay Lake 6 mi · Chazy Lake 7 mi · Lake Kushaqua 17 mi · Buck Pond 18 mi · Taylor Pond 19 mi · Union Falls Flow 19 mi · Clear Pond 19 mi · Meacham Lake 20 mi · Franklin Falls Flow 22 mi · Barnum Pond 24 mi · Ausable River (West Branch) 26 mi · Lower St. Regis Lake 26 mi
See how Upper Chateaugay Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in New York · best rainbow trout lakes in New York · best yellow perch lakes in New York · best lake trout lakes in New York
Browse all New York 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.