Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for cutthroat trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
220-acre lake in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 18 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. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Drawn out, this is 220 acres of water rimmed by 2.5 miles of bank. Nearly circular (index 1.2), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. About 84% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 0.8 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.7 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District. The nearest mapped water is Aldrich Lake, 3 mi to the east.
Spring cutthroat trout on Dennis Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 18 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 8 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner.
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 (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 18 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 5 to 18 ft covers summer, 4 to 18 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 18 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 5 to 18 ft. Through summer count on 5 to 18 ft; the winter hold is 5 to 18 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 15 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (15 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (15 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts coho salmon in skinny water — 2 to 18 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 5 to 18 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 18 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for summer coho salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline 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 | 2 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (15 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 4 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Early season dolly varden use the shallows, holding in 1 to 18 ft. Even in summer they hold at 1 to 18 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 18 ft. The chart's best answer is Main-lake point — point, 8 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a small chrome spoon or a baitfish streamer and you're in the game.
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 | 1 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 1 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small silver spoon, Inline spinner |
| Summer | 1 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small chrome spoon, Baitfish streamer |
| Fall | 1 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 1 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small spinner, Egg or fry pattern |
| Winter | 3 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (8 ft) | Small slow spoon, Weighted baitfish fly |
Spring pink salmon on Dennis Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 18 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 1 to 18 ft in summer, 4 to 18 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 15 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a pink or orange casting spoon or a small hoochie.
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 | 2 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (15 ft) | Small chrome spoon, Compact herring-pattern jig |
| Summer | 1 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Pink or orange casting spoon, Small hoochie |
| Fall | 1 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small bright spoon, Pink jig |
| Winter | 4 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 90 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) | Small vertical jig |
Dennis Lake also holds steelhead (2 to 18 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 6 structure features on Dennis Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 15 ft.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Dennis Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Dennis Lake is about 18 ft (5 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 cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, lake whitefish, coho salmon, dolly varden, pink salmon, steelhead on Dennis Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For cutthroat 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 Dennis 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.
Aldrich Lake 3 mi · Mcdonell Lake 7 mi · Kathlyn Lake 10 mi · Toboggan Lake 10 mi · Bigelow Lake 11 mi · Seymour Lake 11 mi · Taltzen Lake 12 mi · Kitseguecla Lake 13 mi · Tyhee Lake 16 mi · Duckwing Lake 18 mi · Duckbill Lake 18 mi · Mcdowell Lake 19 mi
See how Dennis Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best coho salmon lakes in British Columbia · best steelhead lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish 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. Shoreline: British Columbia Freshwater Atlas. This is a shoreline guide. Modeled depth contours have been retired. 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.