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Rating depth structure for kokanee.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
526-acre lake in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 159 ft. The surface is reconstructed from 72 measured spot soundings collected in 1979; water between those measurements is interpolated. Treat the contours between those soundings as a guide, never as navigation. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Drawn out, this is 526 acres of water rimmed by 9.5 miles of bank, broken up by an island. The 3 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 24% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 3.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.6 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District. The nearest mapped water is Manson Lakes, 3 mi to the southeast.
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 10 to 30 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 30 to 70 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 54 ft, rated prime for summer kokanee. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | open water | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Spring puts lake trout in skinny water — 10 to 40 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 50 to 120 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 80 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 54 ft, rated prime for winter lake trout. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Spring rainbow trout concentrate at Main-lake point, a good-rated point around 1 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. 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 (1 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 15 to 45 ft. Summer is a 40 to 90 ft game here, winter a 25 to 70 ft one. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 54 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Come spring, look for dolly varden tight to the bank in 1 to 30 ft. They move out to 2 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 1 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A small chrome spoon or a baitfish streamer is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small silver spoon, Inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small chrome spoon, Baitfish streamer |
| Fall | 1 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small spinner, Egg or fry pattern |
| Winter | 8 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (54 ft) | Small slow spoon, Weighted baitfish fly |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 152 ft.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Manson Lakes specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Manson Lakes is about 159.12 ft (48 m) deep at its deepest point. The surface is reconstructed from 72 measured spot soundings collected in 1979; water between those measurements is interpolated. Treat the contours between those soundings as a guide, never as navigation.
Anglers target kokanee, lake trout, rainbow trout, lake whitefish, dolly varden on Manson Lakes.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for dolly varden in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For kokanee, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Manson Lakes 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.
Manson Lakes 3 mi · Wolverine Lakes 5 mi · Curve Lake 16 mi · Germansen Lake 19 mi · Skunk Lake 20 mi · Tsaydaychi Lake 21 mi · Spring Lake 23 mi · Klawli Lake 24 mi · Nina Lake 25 mi · Wudtsi Lake 25 mi · Munro Lake 26 mi · Finger Lake 28 mi
See how Manson Lakes stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake trout lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Bulkley-Nechako Regional District fishing maps (324 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch · Manson Lakes historic bathymetric chart spot soundings; contour geometry independently interpolated by 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.