Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Chismaina Lake
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Chismaina Lake: what the data says
1,573-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 95 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Traced from the shoreline, Chismaina Lake runs 1,569 acres with 11.5 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2.1) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Roughly 40% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives.
Arctic Grayling fishing at Chismaina Lake
Start shallow in spring: arctic grayling sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 25 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 6-ft range, good in spring. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dry fly (parachute adams, elk hair caddis) or a small inline spinner until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | 1/16 oz spinner (silver), Small dry fly (Adams, Griffith's) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Dry fly (parachute Adams, elk hair caddis), Small inline spinner |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Break off the point (43 ft) | Small spoon, Beadhead nymph under indicator |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (81 ft) | Tungsten jig + waxworm, Small jigging spoon (gold) |
Burbot fishing at Chismaina Lake
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 25 to 70 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 29 to 95 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 60 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 81 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and midday. Throw a heavy jig + cut bait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (81 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 29 to 95 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (81 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (81 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (43 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Chismaina Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: chinook salmon in 5 to 40 ft. As the season builds they drop to 29 to 95 ft, wintering in 30 to 90 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 81-ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (43 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 29 to 95 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (81 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (43 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Deep basin (81 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Cisco (Lake Herring) fishing at Chismaina Lake
When the water first warms, cisco (lake herring) slide up into 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 40 to 80 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 81 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (43 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 40 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (81 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Break off the point (43 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
Lake Trout fishing at Chismaina Lake
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 29 to 95 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 81 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (24 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 29 to 95 ft | dawn | Deep basin (81 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (24 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (81 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Chismaina Lake
Spring puts northern pike in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Spring northern pike concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 6 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Chismaina Lake also holds lake whitefish (40 to 90 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 81 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 43 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 24 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 24 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Chismaina 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 Chismaina Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Chismaina Lake?
Chismaina Lake is about 95 ft (29 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 Chismaina Lake?
Anglers target northern pike, chinook salmon, lake trout, lake whitefish, burbot, arctic grayling, cisco (lake herring) on Chismaina Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Chismaina Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 81 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Chismaina Lake?
For arctic grayling, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. 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 Chismaina Lake?
Fishing on Chismaina 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
Disella Lake 6 mi · Prairie Lake 10 mi · Gun Lake 11 mi · Kedahda Lake 15 mi · Hyland Lake 18 mi · Aconitum Lake 21 mi · Nakina Lake 22 mi · Victoria Lake 23 mi · Ruth Lake 40 mi · Klinkit Lake 41 mi · Butte Lake 43 mi · Tachilta Lakes 44 mi
See how Chismaina Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in British Columbia · best chinook salmon lakes in British Columbia · best lake trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish 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.