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232-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 15 ft. The depth chart comes from British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Traced from the shoreline, Dester Lake runs 231 acres with 4 miles of edge. Index 1.9 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Figure 1.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.5 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Cariboo Regional District. For a second option, Knox Lake lies 1 mi northwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 4 to 15 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 15 ft through summer, 3 to 15 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 14 ft range, good in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
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 | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 3 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Start shallow in spring: kokanee sit in 5 to 15 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 5 to 15 ft covers summer, 4 to 15 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn 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 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
When the water first warms, lake whitefish slide up into 5 to 15 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 5 to 15 ft, winter 5 to 15 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 14 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 5 to 15 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 5 to 15 ft covers summer, 4 to 15 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 14 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. Throw a heavy jig + cut bait 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 15 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 14 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 Dester Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Dester Lake is about 15 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target rainbow trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Dester Lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Dester 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.
Knox Lake 1 mi · Meldrum Lake 4 mi · Callanan Lake 7 mi · Till Lake 11 mi · Leeches Lake 12 mi · Blue Lake 13 mi · Reservoir Lake 14 mi · Tingley Lake 15 mi · Soap Lake 15 mi · Mcleese Lake 16 mi · Mcintyre Lake 16 mi · Riske Creek Reservoir 16 mi
See how Dester Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best burbot lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Cariboo Regional District fishing maps (445 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.