Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
90-acre lake in Nanaimo Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 21 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
On the chart, Holden Lake draws 90 acres inside 3.2 miles of shoreline. A development index of 2.4 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 73% of this chart, as modeled. Tip to tip the water measures near 1 mi with a 0.4-mi widest point. The water lies in Nanaimo Regional District. For a second option, Greenway Lake lies 2 mi southeast.
Come spring, look for cutthroat trout tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 6 to 21 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 21 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 9 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 5 to 21 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Early season pumpkinseed use the shallows, holding in 1 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 10 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 18 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 21 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 21 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 21 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 18 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Holden Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Holden Lake is about 21 ft (6 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, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout on Holden Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 9 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 Holden 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.
Greenway Lake 2 mi · Quennell Lake 2 mi · Beck Lake 3 mi · Priest Lake 4 mi · Michael Lake 4 mi · Blind Lake 5 mi · Nanaimo Harbour 6 mi · Degnen Bay 6 mi · Timberland Lake 7 mi · Mckay Lake 7 mi · Cathers Lake 9 mi · Westwood Lake 9 mi
See how Holden Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia · best pumpkinseed lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Nanaimo Regional District fishing maps (33 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.