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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
569-acre lake near Rocky Mountain House. The lake tops out around 30 ft. The depth chart comes from Alberta Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Crimson Lake runs 568 acres with 4.3 miles of edge, with a single island in the mix. Its 1.3 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. About 91% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.3 mi with a 1.1-mi widest point. You'll find it in Division No. 9. The nearest mapped water is Cow Lake, 13 mi to the south.
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 30 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 13 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.
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 | Break off the point (13 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (13 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (13 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 6 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (13 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
When the water first warms, yellow perch slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 9 to 30 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm rigged through the warm months.
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 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (27 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (27 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (27 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Crimson Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 27 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Alberta waters are set by the Alberta fishing regulations — and special regulations can apply to Crimson Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alberta fishing regulations →
Crimson Lake is about 30 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Alberta Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target rainbow trout, yellow perch on Crimson Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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.
Fishing on Crimson Lake is regulated by the Alberta fishing regulations. Check the official Alberta regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cow Lake 13 mi · Mitchell Lake 17 mi · Strubel Lake 18 mi · Medicine Lake 23 mi · Swan Lake 24 mi · Gosling Lake 26 mi · Burnstick Lake 33 mi · Sylvan Lake 38 mi · Buck Lake 38 mi · Gull Lake 44 mi · Gleniffer Lake 44 mi · Twin Lakes 44 mi
See how Crimson Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Alberta · best yellow perch lakes in Alberta
More water nearby: Division No. 9 fishing maps (9 charts). Browse all Alberta fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: Alberta Geological Survey, Lake bathymetry. 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.