Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Mckinley Lake
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Mckinley Lake: what the data says
118-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 21 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
On the chart, Mckinley Lake draws 117 acres inside 3.8 miles of shoreline. 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. 83% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Mckinley Lake
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.
| 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 | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 21 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Kokanee fishing at Mckinley Lake
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 6 to 21 ft. Even in summer they hold at 6 to 21 ft; winter keeps them 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 21 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 3 to 21 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 21 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Mckinley Lake
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 6 to 21 ft. Summer fish stay in 6 to 21 ft, and winter fish hold 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 21 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft | dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (18 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Burbot fishing at Mckinley Lake
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 6 to 21 ft is the zone. Even in summer they hold at 6 to 21 ft; winter keeps them 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 21 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 5 to 21 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 18 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 9 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
Mckinley 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 Mckinley Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Mckinley Lake?
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.
What fish are in Mckinley Lake?
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.
Where is the best fishing spot on Mckinley Lake?
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.
When is the best time to fish Mckinley 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 Mckinley Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
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
Browse all British Columbia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.