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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
275-acre lake near Caroga. 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. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, West Caroga Lake runs 321 acres with 3.1 miles of edge. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Roughly 35% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 1.1 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.6 mi at the beam. The water lies in Fulton County. For a second option, East Caroga Lake lies 1 mi southeast.
Start shallow in spring: splake sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 45 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 27 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (27 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (16 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 15 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 21 to 70 ft, then a winter hold in 25 to 70 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 70 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (70 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (27 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (70 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 45 ft. Secondary point is the standout, a point at roughly 16 ft, rated prime for fall smallmouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (27 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Secondary point (16 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (27 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: landlocked salmon sit in 1 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 25 to 60 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 27 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. 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 | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (27 ft) | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 27 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. 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 | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (27 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (16 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Put Back-bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (27 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
West Caroga Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 70 ft down.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2025* | Splake | 6,270 | ~7.7" |
| October 2024* | Splake | 1,500 | ~5.6" |
| April 2024* | Splake | 5,240 | ~8.3" |
* 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 West Caroga Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
West Caroga 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 splake, lake whitefish, smallmouth bass, landlocked salmon, rainbow trout, yellow perch on West Caroga Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 27 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For splake, 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, West Caroga Lake was most recently stocked April 2025 with 6,270 splake. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on West Caroga 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.
East Caroga Lake 1 mi · Canada Lake 2 mi · Great Sacandaga Lake 17 mi · Jerseyfield Lake 18 mi · Piseco Lake 19 mi · Lake Pleasant 24 mi · Sacandaga Lake 25 mi · Summit Lake 26 mi · South Lake 32 mi · Otsego Lake 33 mi · Canadarago Lake 34 mi · Collins Lake 35 mi
See how West Caroga 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 landlocked salmon 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.