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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
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586-acre lake in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 36 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Gatcho Lake maps at 586 acres behind 6 miles of shoreline. With a 1.8 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Roughly 41% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.6 mi with a 1.2-mi widest point. It sits in Cariboo Regional District. Its nearest charted neighbour, Malaput Lake, is 2 mi to the east.
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 36 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 16 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 36 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Gatcho Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 31 ft down.
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 Gatcho Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Gatcho Lake is about 36 ft (11 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 rainbow trout on Gatcho Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Gatcho 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.
Malaput Lake 2 mi · Tsayakwacha Lake 3 mi · Majuba Lake 4 mi · Basalt Lake 9 mi · Eliguk Lake 11 mi · Squiness Lake 14 mi · Tschick Lake 15 mi · Johnny Lake 16 mi · Moose Lake 17 mi · Cow Lake 17 mi · Tanya Lakes 18 mi · Entiako Lake 20 mi
See how Gatcho Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Cariboo Regional District fishing maps (445 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.