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118-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 21 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Mckinley Lake runs 117 acres with 3.8 miles of edge. A development index of 2.5 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 83% of this chart, as modeled. Call it 1 mi long by 0.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Thompson-Nicola Regional District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Pollard Lake, 2 mi southwest of here.
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 21 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 21 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
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 | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 6 to 21 ft. Summer keeps them at 6 to 21 ft, and they winter in 5 to 21 ft. Spring kokanee concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 18 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn most summer days.
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 | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 3 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 6 to 21 ft. Even in summer they hold at 6 to 21 ft; winter keeps them in 6 to 21 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 18 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
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 | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 6 to 21 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 6 to 21 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 21 ft. Spring burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 18 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
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 | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 5 to 21 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 18 ft.
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 Mckinley Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Mckinley Lake is about 21 ft (6 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 Mckinley 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 18 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Mckinley 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.
Pollard Lake 2 mi · River Lakes 3 mi · Beaverdam Lake 6 mi · Valenzuela Lake 6 mi · Bullock Lake 7 mi · Bishop Lake 8 mi · Eightythree Lake 9 mi · Trurans Lake 9 mi · Big Bar Lake 10 mi · Davis Lake 12 mi · Boar Lake 12 mi · Neilson Lake 12 mi
See how Mckinley 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: Thompson-Nicola Regional District fishing maps (322 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.