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Fishing China Lake: what the data says
6-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 13 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, China Lake draws 6 acres inside 0.3 miles of shoreline. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory.
Rainbow Trout fishing at China Lake
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 13 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 13 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 13 ft. Shoreline break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 6 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 | 3 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 3 to 13 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Kokanee fishing at China Lake
Spring puts kokanee in skinny water — 4 to 13 ft is the zone. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 13 ft, winter 3 to 13 ft. Spring kokanee concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 11 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 13 ft | dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 2 to 13 ft | dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 13 ft | dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Lake Whitefish fishing at China Lake
Spring lake whitefish on China Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 13 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 13 ft, and they winter in 4 to 13 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 11 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 13 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline break (6 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 13 ft | dusk | Shoreline break (6 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (11 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Burbot fishing at China Lake
In spring, burbot run shallow here, mostly 4 to 13 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 13 ft, winter 3 to 13 ft. Spring burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 11 ft. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a heavy jig + cut bait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 13 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (11 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (11 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (11 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 3 to 13 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (11 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 11 ft
- Shoreline break: drop-off, around 6 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
China 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 China Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is China Lake?
China Lake is about 13 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 China Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on China 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 China Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
When is the best time to fish China 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 China Lake?
Fishing on China 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
Little Big Bar Lake 6 mi · Onion Lake 7 mi · White Lake 8 mi · Canoe Lake 10 mi · Brown Lake 11 mi · Big Bar Lake 12 mi · Moore Lake 15 mi · Valenzuela Lake 15 mi · Koster Lake 16 mi · Pollard Lake 19 mi · Beaverdam Lake 20 mi · Gustafsen Lake 20 mi
See how China 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.