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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
13-acre lake in Cowichan Valley Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 26 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Drawn out, this is 13 acres of water rimmed by 0.6 miles of bank. Its 1.1 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 48% of this chart, as modeled. You'll find it in Cowichan Valley Regional District. The nearest mapped water is Fuller Lake, 1 mi to the east.
Spring puts brook trout in skinny water — 2 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 26 ft, wintering in 3 to 20 ft. Summer brook trout concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 22 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
When the water first warms, cutthroat trout slide up into 3 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 26 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 26 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 12 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 26 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 7 to 26 ft | dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 26 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 26 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 12 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 26 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 26 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 26 ft | dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 3 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 22 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 Chemainus Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Chemainus Lake is about 26 ft (8 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 brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout on Chemainus Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 12 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 brook 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 Chemainus 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.
Fuller Lake 1 mi · Holyoak Lake 4 mi · Stocking Lake 5 mi · Silver Lake 5 mi · Holland Lake 6 mi · Somenos Lake 8 mi · Quamichan Lake 9 mi · Michael Lake 9 mi · St. Mary Lake 10 mi · Priest Lake 10 mi · Maple Bay 10 mi · Quennell Lake 11 mi
See how Chemainus Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best brook trout lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Cowichan Valley Regional District fishing maps (30 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.