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Fishing Bobtail Lake: what the data says
67-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 12 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, Bobtail Lake runs 66 acres with 2.3 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Bobtail Lake
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 12 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 12 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 8-ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Kokanee fishing at Bobtail Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: kokanee in 4 to 12 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 12 ft through summer, 3 to 12 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Bobtail Lake
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 4 to 12 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 12 ft, and they winter in 4 to 12 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 10 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Burbot fishing at Bobtail Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 4 to 12 ft. Even in summer they hold at 4 to 12 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 12 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 10-ft range, prime in spring. Time it for after dark and midday. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (10 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 10 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Bobtail 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 Bobtail Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Bobtail Lake?
Bobtail Lake is about 12 ft (4 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 Bobtail Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Bobtail 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 Bobtail Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
When is the best time to fish Bobtail 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 Bobtail Lake?
Fishing on Bobtail 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
Island Lake 1 mi · 130 Mile Lake 3 mi · Maze Lake 6 mi · Chimney Lake 6 mi · Phililloo Lake 7 mi · Felker Lake 9 mi · Helena Lake 10 mi · Lac La Hache 11 mi · Camacho Lake 12 mi · Cambaceres Lake 12 mi · Bearpaw Lake 13 mi · Squawk Lake 13 mi
See how Bobtail 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.