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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
1,077-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 80 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
On the chart, Merton Lake draws 1,074 acres inside 9.5 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2.1) — enough points and pockets to pattern. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 46% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 3 mi end to end and 1.4 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Fraser-Fort George Regional District. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Tyee Lake, 4 mi northwest of here.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official exact-water fish record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 25 to 70 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 24 to 80 ft, wintering in 15 to 60 ft. Spring burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 68 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 | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (68 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 24 to 80 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (68 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (68 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (68 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 36 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 (20 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (36 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 15 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 24 to 80 ft, then a winter hold in 25 to 70 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 68 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 | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (36 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 24 to 80 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (68 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (68 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Come spring, look for dolly varden tight to the bank in 1 to 30 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 40 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 45 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 20 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A small chrome spoon or a baitfish streamer is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Small silver spoon, Inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Small chrome spoon, Baitfish streamer |
| Fall | 1 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Small spinner, Egg or fry pattern |
| Winter | 8 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (36 ft) | Small slow spoon, Weighted baitfish fly |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 68 ft.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline. 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 Merton Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Merton Lake is about 80 ft (24 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, rainbow trout, lake whitefish, dolly varden on Merton Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 68 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 Merton 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.
Tyee Lake 4 mi · Peculiar Lake 4 mi · Fisher Lake 7 mi · Terrapin Lake 9 mi · Racoon Lake 9 mi · Davie Lake 10 mi · Weedon Lake 11 mi · Joanne Lake 11 mi · Hawk Lake 12 mi · Square Lake 12 mi · Dominion Lake 12 mi · Mossvale Lake 12 mi
See how Merton Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best burbot lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Fraser-Fort George Regional District fishing maps (188 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.