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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
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1,092-acre lake in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 168 ft. The surface is reconstructed from 177 measured spot soundings collected in 1973; water between those measurements is interpolated. Treat the contours between those soundings as a guide, never as navigation. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The outline encloses 1,092 acres, worked by 7.1 miles of shoreline, with a single island in the mix. A middling shoreline index (1.5) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 21% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 2.3 mi end to end and 1.4 mi across at its widest. It sits in Cariboo Regional District. Elkin Lake sits 4 mi northeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 1 ft that scores good in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat 1 (21 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 168 ft.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline. 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 Chaunigan Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Chaunigan Lake is about 168 ft (51 m) deep at its deepest point. The surface is reconstructed from 177 measured spot soundings collected in 1973; water between those measurements is interpolated. Treat the contours between those soundings as a guide, never as navigation.
Anglers target rainbow trout on Chaunigan Lake.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 1 ft of water that rates good for rainbow trout in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
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.
Fishing on Chaunigan 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.
Elkin Lake 4 mi · Vedan Lake 4 mi · Konni Lake 7 mi · Big Lake 8 mi · Tsuniah Lake 9 mi · Brittany Lake 9 mi · Murray Taylor Lake 10 mi · Vick Lake 10 mi · Fish Lake 15 mi · Big Onion Lake 16 mi · Rosse Lake 16 mi · Chilko Lake 18 mi
See how Chaunigan Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Cariboo Regional District fishing maps (445 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch · Chaunigan Lake historic bathymetric chart spot soundings; contour geometry independently interpolated by 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.