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Fishing Mcdonell Lake: what the data says
48-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 26 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, Mcdonell Lake runs 48 acres with 2.2 miles of edge. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.3) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 80% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Mcdonell Lake
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 26 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 26 ft. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 | 7 to 26 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 26 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 26 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Kokanee fishing at Mcdonell Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: kokanee in 8 to 26 ft. Summer fish stay in 8 to 26 ft, and winter fish hold in 7 to 26 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 22-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 | 8 to 26 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 3 to 26 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 7 to 26 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Mcdonell Lake
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 8 to 26 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 26 ft, and they winter in 8 to 26 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 22 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 26 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 26 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Burbot fishing at Mcdonell Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 8 to 26 ft. The depth story barely changes: 8 to 26 ft through summer, 7 to 26 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. 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 | 8 to 26 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (22 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 8 to 26 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 7 to 26 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 22 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Mcdonell 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 Mcdonell Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Mcdonell Lake?
Mcdonell Lake is about 26 ft (8 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 Mcdonell Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Mcdonell Lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Where is the best fishing spot on Mcdonell Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Mcdonell Lake?
For rainbow 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.
What are the fishing regulations for Mcdonell Lake?
Fishing on Mcdonell 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
Enz Lake 2 mi · Robison Lake 2 mi · Sam Hardy Lake 7 mi · Natalkuz Lake 7 mi · Sather Lake 8 mi · Davidson Lake 8 mi · Island Lake 10 mi · Llgitiyuz Lake 10 mi · White Eye Lake 10 mi · Ootsanee Lake 10 mi · Smith Lake 12 mi · Cheslatta Lake 12 mi
See how Mcdonell Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best burbot 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.