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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
7-acre lake in Nanaimo Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 35 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Drawn out, this is 7 acres of water rimmed by 0.4 miles of bank. Nearly circular (index 1.1), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 29% of this chart, as modeled. You'll find it in Nanaimo Regional District. The nearest mapped water is Lucid Lake, 3 mi to the north.
Early season cutthroat trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 9 to 35 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 16 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 9 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 11 to 35 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for fall smallmouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (16 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 7 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 16 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The chart marks 3 structure features on Barsby Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 30 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 Barsby Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Barsby Lake is about 35 ft (11 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 cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout on Barsby Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For cutthroat 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 Barsby 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.
Lucid Lake 3 mi · Nanaimo Lakes 4 mi · Mckay Lake 5 mi · Westwood Lake 6 mi · Blind Lake 6 mi · Blackjack Lake 6 mi · Cathers Lake 6 mi · Timberland Lake 7 mi · Cottle Lake 7 mi · Boomerang Lake 7 mi · Beck Lake 8 mi · Diver Lake 8 mi
See how Barsby Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in British Columbia · best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Nanaimo Regional District fishing maps (33 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps or 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.