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30-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 52 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Balfour Lake draws 30 acres inside 1.3 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.6) — enough points and pockets to pattern. 48% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 0.4 mi, about 0.2 mi across. You'll find it in Cariboo Regional District. For a second option, Parks Lake lies 1 mi southwest.
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Spring rainbow trout concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 13 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (44 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 10 to 30 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 16 to 52 ft, and winter fish settle into 13 to 52 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 44 ft, rated prime for summer kokanee. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | open water | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 16 to 52 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (44 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (44 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 13 to 52 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (44 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 15 to 45 ft. Summer is a 16 to 52 ft game here, winter a 16 to 52 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 44 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 16 to 52 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (44 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 16 to 52 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (44 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 16 to 52 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 16 to 52 ft, and winter fish hold in 13 to 52 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 44 ft, rated prime for spring burbot. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 16 to 52 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (44 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 16 to 52 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (44 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 16 to 52 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (44 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 13 to 52 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (44 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Structure-wise the chart holds 4 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 44 ft.
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 Balfour Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Balfour Lake is about 52 ft (16 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.
Anglers target rainbow trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Balfour 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.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 44 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in summer. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Balfour 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.
Parks Lake 1 mi · Apollo Lake 2 mi · Drewry Lake 2 mi · Hathaway Lake 3 mi · Deka Lake 3 mi · Carton Lake 4 mi · Sulphurous Lake 4 mi · Rat Lake 4 mi · Bowers Lake 5 mi · Mcneil Lake 5 mi · Higgins Lake 6 mi · Needa Lake 7 mi
See how Balfour 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
More water nearby: Cariboo Regional District fishing maps (445 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.