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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
4-acre pond near Cape May C.H. The lake tops out around 34 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The drawn water covers 4 acres wrapped in 0.3 miles of bank. Its 1.2 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. About 33% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. It sits in Passaic County. Surprise Lake sits 0 mi east — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring rainbow trout on West Pond hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 34 ft. The chart's best answer is Shoreline break — drop-off, 22 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 34 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 34 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 34 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline break: a drop-off around 22 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 10 to 34 ft | midday | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: chain pickerel sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 18 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 13 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. 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 (13 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Come spring, look for brown bullhead tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 25 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 13 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (31 ft) |
Come spring, look for channel catfish tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 34 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 31 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (13 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Shoreline break (22 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (31 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 34 ft | midday | Deep basin (31 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 10 to 34 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 31 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. 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 (13 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (22 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 10 to 34 ft | midday | Deep basin (31 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 10 to 34 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (31 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
West Pond also holds common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
West Pond carries 3 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 31 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Jersey waters are set by the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to West Pond specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Jersey fishing regulations →
West Pond is about 34 ft (10 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 rainbow trout, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, channel catfish, yellow perch, common carp, crappie, bluegill on West Pond.
Shoreline break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For rainbow 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 West Pond is regulated by the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife. Check the official New Jersey regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Surprise Lake 0 mi · Greenwood Lake 2 mi · Green Turtle Lake 3 mi · Monksville Reservoir 4 mi · Clinton Reservoir 8 mi · Silver Lake 10 mi · Lake Stahahe 11 mi, NY · Walton Lake 11 mi, NY · Lake Sebago 11 mi, NY · Pine Meadow Lake 12 mi, NY · Round Lake 12 mi, NY · Lake Askoti 14 mi, NY
See how West Pond stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in New Jersey · best crappie lakes in New Jersey · best bluegill lakes in New Jersey · best channel catfish lakes in New Jersey
More water nearby: Passaic County fishing maps (6 charts). Browse all New Jersey 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.