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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
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. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Drawn out, this is 48 acres of water rimmed by 2.2 miles of bank. The 2.3 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. 80% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 0.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.3 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District. For a second option, Enz Lake lies 2 mi west.
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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| 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 chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: kokanee in 8 to 26 ft. The depth story barely changes: 8 to 26 ft through summer, 7 to 26 ft in winter. 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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 3 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 8 to 26 ft. Through summer count on 8 to 26 ft; the winter hold is 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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (22 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 8 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 7 to 26 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
5 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 22 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 Mcdonell Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
More water nearby: Bulkley-Nechako Regional District fishing maps (324 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps. 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.