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Rating depth structure for brook trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
69-acre lake near Canmore. The lake tops out around 8 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.
The drawn water covers 69 acres wrapped in 1.4 miles of bank. Its 1.2 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. The basin spans about 0.6 mi end to end and 0.3 mi across at its widest. Division No. 15 claims this one. If the bite dies, Lake Minnewanka is 15 mi to the northwest.
Early season brook trout use the shallows, holding in 1 to 8 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 8 ft; winter keeps them in 1 to 8 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 8 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm 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 8 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (8 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 1 to 8 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Time it for after dark and early morning. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) 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 | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
In spring, cutthroat trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 2 to 8 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for summer cutthroat trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner 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 | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Spring rainbow trout on Gap Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 8 ft in summer, 2 to 8 ft once it turns cold. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 8 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
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 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for bull trout tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 8 ft that scores good in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A trolled plug on downrigger or a heavy 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 | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Large jointed plug, 6" swimbait (kokanee/trout pattern) |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 90 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (8 ft) | Trolled plug on downrigger, Heavy jigging spoon |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Large glide bait, Jointed plug |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 70 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Heavy spoon (slow lift), Large soft swimbait |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 8 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Gap Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alberta fishing regulations →
Gap Lake is about 8 ft (2 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 brook trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, bull trout on Gap 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. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For brook 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 Gap 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.
Lake Minnewanka 15 mi · Og Lake 19 mi, BC · Gog Lake 20 mi, BC · Lake Magog 20 mi, BC · Sunburst Lake 21 mi, BC · Elizabeth Lake 21 mi, BC · Cerulean Lake 21 mi, BC · Wedgwood Lake 23 mi, BC · Rock Isle Lake 24 mi, BC · Rock Lake 24 mi, BC · Larix Lake 24 mi, BC · Grizzly Lake 24 mi, BC
See how Gap Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Alberta · best brown trout lakes in Alberta · best brook trout lakes in Alberta · best cutthroat trout lakes in Alberta
More water nearby: Division No. 15 fishing maps (5 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.