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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
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104-acre lake in Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 135 ft. Bathymetry on this water is estimated from its real outline and maximum depth. Use it to shortlist water, then verify with your electronics — and never navigate by it. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Francis Lake maps at 104 acres behind 2.5 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.7) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Roughly 5% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.1 mi with a 0.3-mi widest point. It sits in Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Its nearest charted neighbour, Darlington Lake, is 1 mi to the northwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cutthroat trout in 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 35 ft before dropping to 10 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 34 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 34 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
| 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 | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (34 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (61 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Francis Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 115 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 Francis Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Francis Lake is about 135 ft (41 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 on Francis Lake.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 34 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Francis 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.
Darlington Lake 1 mi · Tuck Lake 6 mi · Flora Lake 7 mi · Hawthorn Lake 7 mi · Lizard Pond 9 mi · Sarita Lake 9 mi · Kissinger Lake 10 mi · Hitchie Lake 12 mi · Hobiton Lake 15 mi · Fourth Lake 15 mi · Kammat Lake 16 mi · Henry Lake 16 mi
See how Francis Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District fishing maps (52 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.