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Fishing Mara Lake: what the data says
4,814-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 150 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Traced from the shoreline, Mara Lake runs 4,804 acres with 26.1 miles of edge. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.7) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 11% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone.
Burbot fishing at Mara Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 25 to 70 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 50 to 120 ft before dropping to 15 to 60 ft for winter. The spot to know is Offshore hump, a offshore hump in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in winter. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (68 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (128 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (68 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Offshore hump (19 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Mara Lake
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 5 to 40 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 50 to 120 ft; cold water stacks them in 30 to 90 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 128-ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (16 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (128 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (16 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Break off the point (68 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Coho Salmon fishing at Mara Lake
Spring puts coho salmon in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 30 to 70 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 68 ft, rated prime for summer coho salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (16 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (68 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (38 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (16 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Common Carp fishing at Mara Lake
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (128 ft) |
Kokanee fishing at Mara Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: kokanee in 10 to 30 ft. As the season builds they drop to 30 to 70 ft, wintering in 20 to 80 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 16-ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (16 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Break off the point (68 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Sharp break (16 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (19 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Lake Trout fishing at Mara Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake trout in 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 50 to 120 ft before dropping to 20 to 80 ft for winter. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (38 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (128 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (9 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (19 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Mara Lake also holds rainbow trout (8 to 30 ft in summer), lake whitefish (40 to 90 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 128 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 68 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 38 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 38 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 19 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 16 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 9 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Mara Lake fishing regulations
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 Mara Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Mara Lake?
Mara Lake is about 150 ft (46 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.
What fish are in Mara Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, common carp, chinook salmon, coho salmon, lake trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Mara Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Mara Lake?
Offshore hump is the top-rated area: a offshore hump in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Mara Lake?
For burbot, the summer bite is best in after dark and midday. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
What are the fishing regulations for Mara Lake?
Fishing on Mara 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.
Nearby waters
Gardom Lake 14 mi · White Lake 14 mi · Little White Lake 15 mi · Hidden Lake 16 mi · Shuswap Lake 17 mi · Kidney Lake 17 mi · Skimikin Lake 19 mi · Mabel Lake 19 mi · Wallensteen Lake 21 mi · Kernaghan Lake 22 mi · Bryden Lake 23 mi · Phillips Lake 23 mi
See how Mara Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best chinook salmon lakes in British Columbia · best coho salmon lakes in British Columbia · best lake trout lakes in British Columbia
Browse all British Columbia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.