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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
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2,034-acre lake in Stikine Region, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 183 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, Cold Fish Lake draws 2,034 acres inside 19.2 miles of shoreline, broken up by 2 islands. An index of 3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 10% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 6.5 mi with a 2.1-mi widest point. The water lies in Stikine Region. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Gladys Lake, 5 mi south of here.
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 feeding flat in the 6 ft range, prime in summer. 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 (82 ft) | Small spoon, Beadhead nymph under indicator |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tungsten jig + waxworm, Small jigging spoon (gold) |
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 25 to 70 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 120 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 60 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 82 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in fall. 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 (156 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Break off the point (82 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (82 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (156 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 120 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 82 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in winter. 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 (46 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Break off the point (82 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (46 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (82 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 8 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a feeding flat in about 6 ft of water that rates good for rainbow trout in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (46 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (82 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
When the water first warms, lake whitefish slide up into 15 to 45 ft. By summer they slide out to 40 to 90 ft, and by winter most fish are in 25 to 70 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 82 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Break off the point (82 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (82 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Cold Fish Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 156 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 Cold Fish Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Cold Fish Lake is about 183 ft (56 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 arctic grayling, burbot, lake trout, rainbow trout, lake whitefish on Cold Fish Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for arctic grayling in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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.
Fishing on Cold Fish 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.
Gladys Lake 5 mi · Bug Lake 6 mi · Buckinghorse Lake 27 mi · Klahowya Lake 28 mi · Kluea Lake 37 mi · Nass Lake 37 mi · Tuaton Lake 37 mi · Happy Lake 38 mi · Todagin Lake 38 mi · Ealue Lake 39 mi · Laslui Lake 39 mi · Hotlesklwa Lake 41 mi
See how Cold Fish Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best burbot lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Stikine Region fishing maps (88 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.