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Rating depth structure for northern pike.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
96-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 37 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Clota Lake runs 96 acres with 2 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.5) — enough points and pockets to pattern. About 74% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 0.9 mi end to end and 0.3 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District. For a second option, Nilkitkwa Lake lies 2 mi west.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official exact-water fish record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 11 to 37 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 11 to 37 ft, and winter fish hold in 9 to 37 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 31 ft, rated prime for spring burbot. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (31 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (31 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (31 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 9 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (31 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Come spring, look for cutthroat trout tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 9 to 37 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 17 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 9 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 7 to 37 ft. Winter rainbow trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 17 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 31 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Clota Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Clota Lake is about 37 ft (11 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, northern pike, rainbow trout on Clota Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 31 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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 Clota 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.
Nilkitkwa Lake 2 mi · Acorn Lake 3 mi · Fission Lake 3 mi · Haul Lake 6 mi · Tahlo Lake 7 mi · Sucker Lake 9 mi · Friday Lake 11 mi · Nakinilerak Lake 15 mi · Torkelsen Lake 21 mi · Hautete Lake 23 mi · Bristol Lake 25 mi · Pine Tree Lake 28 mi
See how Clota Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in British Columbia · best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best burbot lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Bulkley-Nechako Regional District fishing maps (324 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps. 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.