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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
2,252-acre lake in Mount Waddington Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 528 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Drawn out, this is 2,252 acres of water rimmed by 12.7 miles of bank. Index 1.9 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 0% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 5.4 mi, about 1.2 mi across. The water lies in Mount Waddington Regional District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Ida Lake, 5 mi north of here.
Spring cutthroat trout on Bonanza Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 10 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 238 ft that grades good for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (238 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (132 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (238 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: kokanee in 10 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 30 to 70 ft before dropping to 20 to 80 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 449 ft of water that rates good 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 | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (449 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (449 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 (449 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a feeding flat in the 6 ft range, good 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 | 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 (238 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 449 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 Bonanza Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Bonanza Lake is about 528 ft (161 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, kokanee, rainbow trout on Bonanza Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 6 ft of water that rates good for rainbow trout in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Bonanza 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.
Ida Lake 5 mi · Anutz Lake 8 mi · Diane Lake 9 mi · Nimpkish Lake 9 mi · Tsiko Lake 9 mi · Huson Lake 10 mi · Mukwilla Lake 10 mi · Claud Elliott Lake 11 mi · Wolfe Lake 12 mi · Thiemer Lake 13 mi · Atluck Lake 13 mi · Roselle Lake 14 mi
See how Bonanza Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Mount Waddington Regional District fishing maps (56 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.