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Rating depth structure for lake trout.
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304-acre lake in Stikine Region, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 74 ft. Bathymetry on this water is estimated from its real outline and maximum depth. Use it to shortlist water, then verify with your electronics — and never navigate by it. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
The drawn water covers 304 acres wrapped in 4 miles of bank. With a 1.7 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. 35% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 1.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.5 mi at the beam. It sits in Stikine Region. Its nearest charted neighbour, Lower Mcdonald Lake, is 1 mi to the southwest.
When the water first warms, burbot slide up into 25 to 70 ft. By summer they slide out to 22 to 74 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 63 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and midday. Keep a heavy jig + cut bait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (63 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 22 to 74 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (63 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 22 to 74 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (63 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (63 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
When the water first warms, lake trout slide up into 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 22 to 74 ft, and by winter most fish are in 19 to 74 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 63 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (19 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 22 to 74 ft | dawn | Deep basin (63 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (19 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 19 to 74 ft | dawn | Deep basin (63 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 22 to 74 ft, and winter fish settle into 25 to 70 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 63 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (33 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 22 to 74 ft | dawn | Deep basin (63 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (19 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (63 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 63 ft.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset. 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 Mcdonald Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Mcdonald Lake is about 74 ft (23 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 burbot, lake trout, lake whitefish on Mcdonald Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 63 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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.
Fishing on Mcdonald 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.
Lower Mcdonald Lake 1 mi · Indian Lake 10 mi · Atlin Lake 15 mi · Laidlaw Lake 22 mi · Trout Lake 29 mi · Dixie Lake 29 mi · Simpson Lake 34 mi · Tutshi Lake 36 mi · Ruth Lake 40 mi · Teslin Lake 46 mi · Coconino Lake 52 mi · Swift Lake 60 mi
See how Mcdonald Lake stacks up: best lake trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best burbot lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Stikine Region fishing maps (88 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.