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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
162-acre lake in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 59 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Gates Lake maps at 162 acres behind 2.7 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.5) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 14% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Call it 1.1 mi long by 0.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. Its nearest charted neighbour, Birkenhead Lake, is 5 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 Break off the point, a drop-off in about 27 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 | Main-lake point (15 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (27 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (15 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Come spring, look for kokanee tight to the bank in 10 to 30 ft. Expect a summer slide to 18 to 59 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 59 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 50 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 18 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 15 to 59 ft | dawn | Deep basin (50 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
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 Break off the point: a drop-off around 27 ft that scores prime in winter. 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 | Main-lake point (15 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (27 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (15 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 50 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 Gates Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Gates Lake is about 59 ft (18 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, kokanee, rainbow trout on Gates Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 27 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 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 Gates 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.
Birkenhead Lake 5 mi · Blackwater Lake 6 mi · Lower Joffre Lake 9 mi · Cerulean Lake 10 mi · Ogre Lake 11 mi · Mosquito Lake 11 mi · Ivey Lake 11 mi · Tenquille Lake 14 mi · Duffey Lake 14 mi · Anderson Lake 15 mi · Lillooet Lake 18 mi · Keary Lake 21 mi
See how Gates Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Squamish-Lillooet Regional District fishing maps (48 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.