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Fishing Bardon Lake: what the data says
206-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 230 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Bardon Lake maps at 206 acres behind 2.7 miles of shoreline. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.4) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. About 13% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Bardon Lake
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 40 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 6 ft that grades good for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| 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 | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (104 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Kokanee fishing at Bardon Lake
Spring kokanee on Bardon Lake hold shallow, usually 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. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 196 ft, good for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (196 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (196 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (196 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Bardon Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake whitefish in 15 to 45 ft. As the season builds they drop to 40 to 90 ft, wintering in 25 to 70 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 104-ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon gets it done.
| 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 | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Break off the point (104 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (196 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Burbot fishing at Bardon Lake
Come spring, look for burbot tight to the bank in 25 to 70 ft. Expect a summer slide to 50 to 120 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 60 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 104 ft of water and rates good come summer. Prime time lands in after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (196 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Break off the point (104 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (196 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (196 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 196 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 104 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 58 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 58 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Bardon 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 Bardon Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Bardon Lake?
Bardon Lake is about 230 ft (70 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 Bardon Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Bardon 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 Bardon Lake?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates good for rainbow trout in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
When is the best time to fish Bardon 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 Bardon Lake?
Fishing on Bardon 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
Caponero Lake 9 mi · Alty Lake 12 mi · Ecstall Lake 15 mi · Lower Lake 16 mi · Lower Lake 16 mi · Gavel Lake 16 mi · Lowe Lake 19 mi · Jesse Lake 19 mi · Johnston Lake 22 mi · Triumph Lake 23 mi · Sylvia Lake 23 mi · Salter Lake 24 mi
See how Bardon 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.