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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
257-acre lake in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 50 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Drawn out, this is 257 acres of water rimmed by 3.8 miles of bank, broken up by an island. Index 1.7 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 20% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.1 mi with a 0.7-mi widest point. The water lies in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District. For a second option, Tanglechain Lake lies 1 mi southeast.
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 15 to 50 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 15 to 50 ft covers summer, 13 to 50 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 43 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. 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 | 15 to 50 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (43 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (43 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 15 to 50 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (43 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 13 to 50 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (43 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Early season cutthroat trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 15 ft. Summer is a 10 to 35 ft game here, winter a 10 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 23 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (23 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 50 ft, and winter fish settle into 13 to 50 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 43 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. 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 (13 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn | Deep basin (43 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 13 to 50 ft | dawn | Deep basin (43 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 Break off the point, a drop-off in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. 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 | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (23 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (23 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 15 to 50 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 43 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 | Break off the point (23 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn | Deep basin (43 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (23 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (43 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 43 ft.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset. 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 Doris Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Doris Lake is about 50 ft (15 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, lake trout, rainbow trout, lake whitefish on Doris Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 43 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 Doris 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.
Tanglechain Lake 1 mi · Boomerang Lake 2 mi · Pine Tree Lake 3 mi · Chapman Lake 5 mi · Bristol Lake 9 mi · Torkelsen Lake 11 mi · Guess Lake 17 mi · Deception Lake 17 mi · Nizik Lake 18 mi · Mcdowell Lake 22 mi · Hautete Lake 23 mi · East Hautete Lake 25 mi
See how Doris 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: Bulkley-Nechako Regional District fishing maps (324 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.