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Fishing Arbor Lake: what the data says
245-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 98 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn water covers 245 acres wrapped in 4.5 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Roughly 19% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Arbor Lake
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 40 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 25 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (25 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (25 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (44 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Kokanee fishing at Arbor Lake
When the water first warms, kokanee slide up into 10 to 30 ft. By summer they slide out to 30 to 70 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 83 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (83 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Break off the point (44 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (44 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (83 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Arbor Lake
Spring puts lake whitefish in skinny water — 15 to 45 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 40 to 90 ft, wintering in 25 to 70 ft. Summer lake whitefish concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 83 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (44 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (83 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (25 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (44 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Burbot fishing at Arbor Lake
Early season burbot use the shallows, holding in 25 to 70 ft. Expect a summer slide to 29 to 98 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 60 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 83 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and midday. Tie on a heavy jig + cut bait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (44 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 29 to 98 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (83 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (83 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (44 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 83 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 44 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 25 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 25 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Arbor Lake fishing regulations
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for British Columbia waters are set by the BC freshwater fishing synopsis — and special regulations can apply to Arbor Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Arbor Lake?
Arbor Lake is about 98 ft (30 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Arbor Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Arbor Lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Where is the best fishing spot on Arbor Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 83 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
When is the best time to fish Arbor Lake?
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.
What are the fishing regulations for Arbor Lake?
Fishing on Arbor Lake is regulated by the BC freshwater fishing synopsis. Check the official British Columbia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Nearby waters
Honey Lake 5 mi · Nisga'A Lakes 6 mi · Sandal Lake 7 mi · Scrub Lake 8 mi · Paw Lake 11 mi · Jigsaw Lake 11 mi · Nine Lake 12 mi · Jade Lake 13 mi · Femur Lake 13 mi · Munro Lake 15 mi · Swan Lake 16 mi · Bonney Lake 18 mi
See how Arbor Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best burbot lakes in British Columbia
Browse all British Columbia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.