Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
2,517-acre lake in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 107 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. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The chart traces 12.1 miles of shoreline here. With a 2.1 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 16% of this chart, as modeled. Tip to tip the water measures near 4.5 mi with a 1.1-mi widest point. Bulkley-Nechako Regional District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Pine Tree Lake, is 5 mi to the northeast.
When the water first warms, burbot slide up into 25 to 70 ft. Summer is a 32 to 107 ft game here, winter a 15 to 60 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 91 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run after dark and midday. Keep a heavy jig + cut bait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (48 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 32 to 107 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (91 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (48 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (48 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
In spring, cutthroat trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 40 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 27 ft, rated prime for summer cutthroat trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner most summer days.
| 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 | Main-lake point (27 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (27 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Main-lake point (27 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
When the water first warms, lake trout slide up into 10 to 40 ft. Summer is a 32 to 107 ft game here, winter a 20 to 80 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 91 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (27 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 32 to 107 ft | dawn | Deep basin (91 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (27 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (48 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring rainbow trout on Chapman Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 40 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 27 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| 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 | Main-lake point (27 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (27 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (48 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 40 to 90 ft; cold water stacks them in 25 to 70 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 91 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (48 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (91 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (27 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (48 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 91 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Chapman Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Chapman Lake is about 107 ft (33 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 burbot, cutthroat trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, lake whitefish on Chapman Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 91 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For burbot, the summer bite is best in after dark and midday. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Chapman 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.
Pine Tree Lake 5 mi · Doris Lake 5 mi · Boomerang Lake 5 mi · Tanglechain Lake 5 mi · Bristol Lake 8 mi · Torkelsen Lake 11 mi · Guess Lake 14 mi · Deception Lake 16 mi · Mcdowell Lake 18 mi · Tyhee Lake 21 mi · Round Lake 21 mi · Kathlyn Lake 23 mi
See how Chapman Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best burbot lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Bulkley-Nechako Regional District fishing maps (324 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.